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鳀 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
anchovyzg, 17 strokes, radical 鱼, rank #43590, Very Hard
(ti2) T2
  1. 1anchovy
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

(鯷)(ti2)

The character 鳀 (tí) refers specifically to anchovies, a small fish commonly used in various culinary dishes. In Chinese cuisine, anchovies can be found in soups and sauces, providing a rich umami flavor. This term is mainly used in food contexts, particularly when discussing seafood.

Strokes17RadicalFrequency#43590DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese cuisine, anchovies are often used in stocks and broths, highlighting the importance of umami flavors in traditional cooking. This reflects the broader Chinese culinary philosophy of balancing flavors and enhancing dishes.

Memory Tip

Imagine a tiny fish swimming in the ocean, and think of the sound 'tí' as a fish's playful splash. The character 鳀 contains the radical 魚 (yú), which means 'fish,' emphasizing its connection to aquatic life.

Meanings of 鳀

(ti2)
1anchovy
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 鳀

Simplified
Traditional
17Strokes
Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鳀

JasonAmy

Podcast:

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AI Study Notes for 鳀

Quick Contrast

鳗 (mán, eel) - choose 鳀 (tí) when specifically referring to anchovies, while 鳗 (mán) denotes a different type of fish.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a tiny fish swimming in the ocean, and think of the sound 'tí' as a fish's playful splash. The character 鳀 contains the radical 魚 (yú), which means 'fish,' emphasizing its connection to aquatic life.

Usage Notes

Although 鳀 is not commonly used in everyday conversation, it is important in culinary contexts. Learners should be cautious with tones, as mispronouncing 'tí' can lead to confusion with other words. Common collocations include 鳀鱼 (tí yú), meaning 'anchovy fish.'

HSK Study Tips

While 鳀 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, understanding food-related words is essential for practical language use. Students should focus on food vocabulary at this level to navigate dining situations effectively.

Cultural Note

In Chinese cuisine, anchovies are often used in stocks and broths, highlighting the importance of umami flavors in traditional cooking. This reflects the broader Chinese culinary philosophy of balancing flavors and enhancing dishes.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 鳀 (anchovy) with similar characters for different fish, leading to incorrect usage. For example, using 鳀 when referring to 鮭 (guī), which means 'salmon,' is a common error.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鳀

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Etymology of 鳀

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 鳀?

Decomposition of 鳀

IDS Structure⿰鱼是
Full Character
=
Yu2
left
shi4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 鳀?

Write 鳀

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

Grammar Patterns of 鳀

鳀 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 2

Complete the Sentence

奶酪____鱼比萨饼

a pizza topped with cheese and anchovies

Example Sentences for 鳀 (1)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
奶酪鳀鱼比萨饼

nǎi lào tí yú bǐ sà bǐng

a pizza topped with cheese and anchovies
Exercise 1 of 1

Reorder the Sentence

a pizza topped with cheese and anchovies

Tap tokens to build the sentence

Cultural Notes for 鳀

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese cuisine, anchovies are often used in stocks and broths, highlighting the importance of umami flavors in traditional cooking. This reflects the broader Chinese culinary philosophy of balancing flavors and enhancing dishes.

Word Family of 鳀

Words Containing This Character1
anchovy
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 鳀 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鳀

鳀 is commonly used in soups and sauces to enhance flavor with its rich umami taste.