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鲭 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
qīngmackerelg, 16 strokes, radical 鱼, rank #27340, Very Hard
qīng(qing1) T1
  1. 1mackerel
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
(鯖)qīng(qing1)

The character 鲭 (qīng) refers specifically to mackerel, a type of fish. It is often used in culinary contexts and can be seen in discussions about seafood, cooking, and dining experiences in Chinese cuisine. Mackerel is known for its rich flavor and is commonly found in various dishes.

Strokes16RadicalFrequency#27340DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, mackerel is appreciated for its taste and health benefits, often featured in traditional dishes. It symbolizes abundance and is a popular choice during festive meals, particularly in coastal regions.

Memory Tip

Imagine a sleek mackerel swimming gracefully in water. The character 鲭 has the radical for fish (鱼) at the bottom, reminding you that it is a type of fish. The pronunciation 'qīng' can be associated with the word 'clean', reflecting the fresh, invigorating nature of mackerel.

Meanings of 鲭

qīng(qing1)
1mackerel
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 鲭

Simplified
Traditional
16Strokes
Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鲭

JasonAmy

Podcast:

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AI Study Notes for 鲭

Quick Contrast

鲔 (wěi) refers to tuna, another type of fish, while 鲭 (qīng) specifically denotes mackerel; use 鲭 when discussing mackerel dishes.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a sleek mackerel swimming gracefully in water. The character 鲭 has the radical for fish (鱼) at the bottom, reminding you that it is a type of fish. The pronunciation 'qīng' can be associated with the word 'clean', reflecting the fresh, invigorating nature of mackerel.

Usage Notes

When using 鲭, be cautious about the context; it is more commonly used in culinary discussions rather than casual conversations. Learners often confuse it with similar-sounding fish names, so pay attention to pronunciation and tones. Common collocations include 鲭鱼 (mackerel) and dishes like 烤鲭鱼 (grilled mackerel).

HSK Study Tips

Though not part of the HSK vocabulary lists, 鲭 can be linked to food-related terms that are essential for practical communication. Students should focus on learning related terms for seafood and cooking to enhance their culinary vocabulary.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, mackerel is appreciated for its taste and health benefits, often featured in traditional dishes. It symbolizes abundance and is a popular choice during festive meals, particularly in coastal regions.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 鲭 with similar fish names like 鲑 (guō) for salmon. For example, saying '我喜欢鲑鱼' (wǒ xǐhuān guōyú) when they mean mackerel is incorrect; the correct phrase is '我喜欢鲭鱼' (wǒ xǐhuān qīngyú).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鲭

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Etymology of 鲭

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

Phonosemantic compound. 鱼 represents the meaning and 青 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鯖.

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 鲭?

Decomposition of 鲭

IDS Structure⿰鱼青
Full Character
=
Yu2
left
Qing1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 鲭?

Write 鲭

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

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Grammar Patterns of 鲭

鲭 carries one core meaning. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

他们已经出海去捕____鱼。

They'd gone out to fish for mackerel.

Example Sentences for 鲭 (3)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
他们已经出海去捕鲭鱼。

tā mén yǐ jīng chū hǎi qù bǔ qīng yú。

They'd gone out to fish for mackerel.
2
捕到很多鲭鱼.

bǔ dào hěn duō qīng yú.

There is a large take of mackerel.
3
干月桂叶是烹制鲭鱼肉极佳的调味料。

gān yuè guì yè shì pēng zhì qīng yú ròu jí jiā de tiáo wèi liào。

Bay leaf is an excellent herb for mackerel.

Cultural Notes for 鲭

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, mackerel is appreciated for its taste and health benefits, often featured in traditional dishes. It symbolizes abundance and is a popular choice during festive meals, particularly in coastal regions.

Word Family of 鲭

Words Containing This Character1
qīngmackerel
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 鲭 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鲭

鲭 specifically refers to mackerel, while other fish names refer to different species. For example, 鮭鱼 (guī yú) means salmon.