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鳝 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鳝shàneeln, 20 strokes, radical 鱼, rank #67502, Very Hard
shàn(shan4) T4
  1. 1eel
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

鳝(鱓)shàn(shan4)

The character 鳝 (shàn) refers to an eel, a type of elongated fish commonly found in freshwater and known for its slippery texture and rich flavor. It is often used in Chinese cuisine, particularly in dishes like eel soup or stir-fried eel, highlighting its culinary importance in various regional cuisines.

Strokes20Radical鱼Frequency#67502DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, eels are often associated with good health and vitality, as they are rich in nutrients. They are a popular ingredient in various traditional dishes, especially in southern regions of China, where they are celebrated for their unique taste.

Memory Tip

Imagine a slippery eel swimming through a narrow stream. The character 鳝 has the radical for bird (鳥) on the top, suggesting something that might glide smoothly through water, while the bottom part (山) resembles a mountain, symbolizing the eel's natural habitat in rivers and lakes.

Meanings of 鳝

shàn(shan4)
1eel
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 鳝

鳝Simplified
鱓Traditional
20Strokes
鱼Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鳝

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Podcast: 鳝

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AI Study Notes for 鳝

Quick Contrast

鳗 (mán) - 鳗 specifically refers to a type of eel that is typically found in saltwater, while 鳝 refers to freshwater eels.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 鳝 with similar characters like 鱔 (shàn), which also means eel but may have different usages or regional preferences. This word is generally used in both formal and informal contexts when discussing food. Remember to pronounce it with the correct tone: shàn (fourth tone).

HSK Study Tips

Although 鳝 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it's a practical term for learners interested in food and culinary contexts. Focus on learning related food vocabulary and phrases, as they often appear in conversations and restaurant settings.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 鳝 with 鱔 due to their similar pronunciation and meaning. For example, saying '我喜欢吃鱔' instead of '我喜欢吃鳝' might lead to misunderstanding, as 鱔 is less commonly used in casual conversation.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鳝

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Etymology of 鳝

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

Phonosemantic compound. 鱼 represents the meaning and 善 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鱔.

Memory Hint

fish

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 鳝

Phonosemantic compound. 鱼 represents the meaning and 善 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鱔.

  1. 1The meaning half鱼 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half善 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 鳝? 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 鳝?

Decomposition of 鳝

IDS Structure⿰鱼善
鳝Full Character
=
鱼Yu2
left
善shan4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 鳝?

How to say eel in Chinese

“eel” in Chinese is鳝shàn

The character 鳝 (shàn) refers to an eel, a type of elongated fish commonly found in freshwater and known for its slippery texture and rich flavor. It is often used in Chinese cuisine, particularly in dishes like eel soup or stir-fried eel, highlighting its culinary importance in various regional cuisines.

When to use 鳝

Be careful not to confuse 鳝 with similar characters like 鱔 (shàn), which also means eel but may have different usages or regional preferences. This word is generally used in both formal and informal contexts when discussing food. Remember to pronounce it with the correct tone: shàn (fourth tone).

鳝 or something close to it

鳗 (mán) - 鳗 specifically refers to a type of eel that is typically found in saltwater, while 鳝 refers to freshwater eels.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 鳝 with 鱔 due to their similar pronunciation and meaning. For example, saying '我喜欢吃鱔' instead of '我喜欢吃鳝' might lead to misunderstanding, as 鱔 is less commonly used in casual conversation.

Write 鳝

鳝

Practice writing 鳝 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 鳝

Words Containing This Character3
鳝鱼eel鱔魚
鳝shànChinese yellow eel鱓
黄鳝Asian swamp eel (Monopterus albus)黃鱔
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 鳝鱼 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鳝

鳝 can be prepared in many ways, such as grilling, steaming, or stir-frying. It's often marinated to enhance its flavor.

Jason Recommends

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