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鲃 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鲃bāshark; bonitozg, 12 strokes, radical 鱼
bā(ba1)ba T1
  1. 1shark; bonito
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March 24, 2026

鲃(䰾)bā(ba1)

鲃 (bā) refers to a type of fish, specifically the bonito or a shark. It is often used in culinary contexts, particularly when discussing seafood dishes or marine life. This character is not commonly used in everyday conversation but may appear in specialized discussions about fish species.

Strokes12Radical鱼
Cultural note

In Chinese cuisine, fish such as 鲃 (bonito) play a significant role, especially in coastal regions where seafood is a staple. This character reflects the importance of marine resources in Chinese culinary traditions.

Memory tip

Think of the 'b' in '鲃' as the beginning of 'bonito', and the sharp fins of a shark slicing through water. Imagine a big shark with a 'b' on its fin to remember that it’s about the ocean and fish.

Meanings of 鲃

bā(ba1)
1shark; bonito
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 鲃

鲃Simplified
䰾Traditional
12Strokes
鱼Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

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Podcast: 鲃

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AI study notes for 鲃

Usage Notes

This character is quite specialized, so it's more likely to be used in formal or academic contexts rather than informal conversation. Common mistakes include confusing it with similar fish names; always verify the context when discussing marine life.

HSK Study Tips

While 鲃 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects to other aquatic life terms. Students should focus on recognizing its components and understanding its specific usage in relation to fish and marine discussions.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 鲃 with 鲨 (shā), which means shark. It's important to remember that 鲃 specifically refers to bonito or related fish rather than sharks in general.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鲃

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Etymology of 鲃

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory hint

fish

Semantic (meaning)鱼
+
Phonetic (sound)巴
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

鲃 = 鱼 + 巴. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 鲃

IDS Structure⿰鱼巴
鲃Full character
=
鱼Yu2
left
巴Ba1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 鲃?

How to say shark; bonito in Chinese

“shark; bonito” in Chinese is鲃bā

鲃 (bā) refers to a type of fish, specifically the bonito or a shark. It is often used in culinary contexts, particularly when discussing seafood dishes or marine life. This character is not commonly used in everyday conversation but may appear in specialized discussions about fish species.

When to use 鲃

This character is quite specialized, so it's more likely to be used in formal or academic contexts rather than informal conversation. Common mistakes include confusing it with similar fish names; always verify the context when discussing marine life.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 鲃 with 鲨 (shā), which means shark. It's important to remember that 鲃 specifically refers to bonito or related fish rather than sharks in general.

Write 鲃

鲃

Practice writing 鲃 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 鲃

Words containing this character1
鲃bābarbel (fish)䰾

Frequently asked questions about 鲃

It refers to bonito or a type of shark.

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