Meanings of 鲠
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About 鲠
Podcast: 鲠
Podcast: 鲠
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AI study notes for 鲠
诚 (chéng, honest) — use 鲠 (gěng) when emphasizing bluntness or unyielding manner, not just honesty.
Be cautious when using 鲠 in conversation, as it can have both a literal and metaphorical meaning. It is generally more informal, so it might not be suitable in formal writing. Common collocations include '鲠在喉' (gěng zài hóu), meaning 'a fish bone stuck in the throat,' which describes a feeling of discomfort or obstruction.
While 鲠 isn't included in the HSK levels, understanding it can enhance your vocabulary related to food and honesty. It connects to other characters like 鱼 (yú, fish) and 直 (zhí, straight) that may appear in HSK materials. Focus on pronunciation and context to grasp its full meaning.
Learners often confuse 鲠 with other similar sounding characters like 更 (gèng), which means 'more.' For example, saying '我觉得他很更' instead of '我觉得他很鲠' to express that someone is blunt is incorrect.
Pronunciation of 鲠
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Etymology of 鲠
fish
Origin
鲠 = 鱼 + 更. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 鲠
Parts
Which of these is part of 鲠?
How to say fish bones; honest, upright in Chinese
“fish bones; honest, upright” in Chinese is鲠
The character 鲠 (gěng) primarily refers to fish bones, especially those that are stuck in one's throat. In a broader context, it can describe someone who is honest and upright, as well as being blunt or unyielding in manner. It is often used metaphorically to convey a sense of straightforwardness that may be uncomfortable.
When to use 鲠
Be cautious when using 鲠 in conversation, as it can have both a literal and metaphorical meaning. It is generally more informal, so it might not be suitable in formal writing. Common collocations include '鲠在喉' (gěng zài hóu), meaning 'a fish bone stuck in the throat,' which describes a feeling of discomfort or obstruction.
鲠 or something close to it
诚 (chéng, honest) — use 鲠 (gěng) when emphasizing bluntness or unyielding manner, not just honesty.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 鲠 with other similar sounding characters like 更 (gèng), which means 'more.' For example, saying '我觉得他很更' instead of '我觉得他很鲠' to express that someone is blunt is incorrect.
Write 鲠
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Practice writing 鲠 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar patterns of 鲠
鲠 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Fill the gap
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骨____在喉,一吐方快.
I feel suffocated if I don't speak out.
Example sentences for 鲠 (1)
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Word Family of 鲠
Words with 鲠
What does 如鲠在喉 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 鲠
It is pronounced as 'gěng' with a falling-rising tone.
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