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鳋 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鳋sāocarpzg, 17 strokes, radical 鱼
sāo(sao1) T1
  1. 1carp
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

鳋sāo(sao1)

The character 鳋 (sāo) refers specifically to a type of carp. This term is less commonly used in everyday conversation compared to general terms for fish, but it can appear in discussions about aquaculture or culinary contexts. Understanding this character can enhance your vocabulary related to aquatic life.

Strokes17Radical鱼
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, carp are often associated with perseverance and strength, as they are celebrated in festivals such as the Dragon Boat Festival. The image of a carp swimming upstream symbolizes determination.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'sea' (sounds like 'sāo') where a 'carp' swims gracefully. The character 鳋 has the fish radical 魚 (yú) at the bottom, reminding you that it’s related to fish, while the top part resembles waves, suggesting water.

Meanings of 鳋

sāo(sao1)
1carp
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 鳋

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

Podcast: 鳋

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Podcast: 鳋

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 鳋

Usage Notes

While 鳋 is technically correct for referring to this type of carp, most speakers might use the more general term 鱼 (yú) for fish. Be cautious with tone as it is pronounced with a high-level tone (sāo), which can be confused with other similar-sounding words. It is rarely used in formal settings.

HSK Study Tips

Since 鳋 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, learners should focus on related words at their level, especially those connected to aquatic life, like 鱼 (yú). Familiarize yourself with the fish radical to help recognize similar characters.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 鳋 with the more general 鱼, using it in contexts where a broader term is appropriate. For instance, saying '我喜欢鳋' (I like carp) might sound overly specific; '我喜欢鱼' (I like fish) is more natural.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鳋

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Etymology of 鳋

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

fish

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 鳋

  1. 1The meaning half鱼 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half蚤 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 鳋? 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 鳋?

Decomposition of 鳋

IDS Structure⿰鱼蚤
鳋Full Character
=
鱼Yu2
left
蚤zao3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 鳋?

How to say carp in Chinese

“carp” in Chinese is鳋sāo

The character 鳋 (sāo) refers specifically to a type of carp. This term is less commonly used in everyday conversation compared to general terms for fish, but it can appear in discussions about aquaculture or culinary contexts. Understanding this character can enhance your vocabulary related to aquatic life.

When to use 鳋

While 鳋 is technically correct for referring to this type of carp, most speakers might use the more general term 鱼 (yú) for fish. Be cautious with tone as it is pronounced with a high-level tone (sāo), which can be confused with other similar-sounding words. It is rarely used in formal settings.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 鳋 with the more general 鱼, using it in contexts where a broader term is appropriate. For instance, saying '我喜欢鳋' (I like carp) might sound overly specific; '我喜欢鱼' (I like fish) is more natural.

Write 鳋

鳋

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Frequently Asked Questions about 鳋

It is pronounced as 'sāo' with a high-level tone.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 鳋?

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.