Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
鲃 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
shark; bonitozg, 12 strokes, radical 鱼, Very Hard
(ba1) T1
  1. 1shark; bonito
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
(䰾)(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.

Strokes12RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
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

(ba1)
1shark; bonito
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 鲃

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

Podcast: 鲃

JasonAmy

Podcast:

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 鲃

Memory Mnemonic

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.

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.

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.

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

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Etymology of 鲃

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

fish

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

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 鲃?

Decomposition of 鲃

IDS Structure⿰鱼巴
Full Character
=
Yu2
left
Ba1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 鲃?

Write 鲃

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Cultural Notes for 鲃

🏮Cultural insight

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.

Word Family of 鲃

Words Containing This Character1
barbel (fish)
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 鲃 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鲃

It refers to bonito or a type of shark.