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鲲 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鲲kūnspawn; roe; fryHSK 7, n, 16 strokes, radical 鱼, rank #97863, Very Hard
鲲kūnfry (newly hatched fish)HSK 7, unknown, 16 strokes, radical 鱼, rank #97863, Very Hard
鲲kūnlegendary giant fish that could transform into a giant bird 鵬|鹏[Peng2]HSK 7, unknown, 16 strokes, radical 鱼, rank #97863, Very Hard
kūn(kun1) T1
  1. 1spawn; roe; fry
  2. 2fry (newly hatched fish)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

鲲(鯤)kūn(kun1)

The character 鲲 (kūn) refers to a legendary giant fish known in Chinese mythology, which can transform into a giant bird called 鵬 (péng). This character is often used to symbolize great potential and transformation. In more practical terms, it can also refer to fish spawn or newly hatched fry in the context of aquaculture.

Strokes16Radical鱼Frequency#97863DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the 鲲 is often associated with the idea of potential and transformation, reflecting the belief that one can rise from humble beginnings to greatness, similar to the story of the phoenix. This concept is celebrated in literature and philosophy, highlighting the depth of Chinese mythological symbolism.

Memory Tip

Imagine a massive fish, the 鲲, swimming in the ocean, its size so great that it can transform into a majestic bird soaring through the skies. The character has a fish radical (魚) which connects it to aquatic life, while the sound 'kūn' can be remembered as the sound a giant fish might make when it splashes in the water.

Meanings of 鲲

kūn(kun1)
1spawn; roe; fry
2fry (newly hatched fish)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 鲲

鲲Simplified
鯤Traditional
16Strokes
鱼Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 鲲

JasonAmy

Podcast: 鲲

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AI Study Notes for 鲲

Quick Contrast

鹏 (péng) - use 鲲 (kūn) when referring to the legendary fish, and 鹏 (péng) when referring to the bird it transforms into.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 鲲 with similar characters like 鳥 (bird) or 魚 (fish) due to their aquatic themes. It is more commonly used in literary contexts rather than in everyday conversation. Be mindful of the tone; the correct pronunciation is 'kūn' with a high level tone.

HSK Study Tips

Although 鲲 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it provides a great opportunity to explore literary texts and classical Chinese. Students at HSK 5 and above can focus on its metaphorical uses and connections to other characters related to transformation and growth.

Common Mistakes

Learners may confuse 鲲 with 魚 (fish) due to their similar meanings. For example, saying '我喜欢鲲' (I like kun) instead of '我喜欢鱼' (I like fish) can lead to misunderstanding, as 鲲 is specific to the legendary fish and not commonly used to refer to fish in general.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鲲

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Etymology of 鲲

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

fish

Semantic (meaning)鱼
+
Phonetic (sound)昆
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 鲲

  1. 1The meaning half鱼 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half昆 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayfish
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 鲲? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 鲲?

Decomposition of 鲲

IDS Structure⿰鱼昆
鲲Full Character
=
鱼Yu2
left
昆kun1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 鲲?

How to say spawn; roe; fry in Chinese

“spawn; roe; fry” in Chinese is鲲kūn

The character 鲲 (kūn) refers to a legendary giant fish known in Chinese mythology, which can transform into a giant bird called 鵬 (péng). This character is often used to symbolize great potential and transformation. In more practical terms, it can also refer to fish spawn or newly hatched fry in the context of aquaculture.

When to use 鲲

Learners often confuse 鲲 with similar characters like 鳥 (bird) or 魚 (fish) due to their aquatic themes. It is more commonly used in literary contexts rather than in everyday conversation. Be mindful of the tone; the correct pronunciation is 'kūn' with a high level tone.

鲲 or something close to it

鹏 (péng) - use 鲲 (kūn) when referring to the legendary fish, and 鹏 (péng) when referring to the bird it transforms into.

What learners get wrong

Learners may confuse 鲲 with 魚 (fish) due to their similar meanings. For example, saying '我喜欢鲲' (I like kun) instead of '我喜欢鱼' (I like fish) can lead to misunderstanding, as 鲲 is specific to the legendary fish and not commonly used to refer to fish in general.

Write 鲲

鲲

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 鲲

Words Containing This Character1
鲲kūnfry (newly hatched fish)鯤
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 鲲 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鲲

鲲 symbolizes great potential and transformation, often representing the journey from obscurity to greatness.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 鲲?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.