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March 24, 2026
鼉tuó(tuo2)
The character 鼉 (tuó) refers to a large reptile, commonly understood as a type of water lizard or giant salamander. It is often associated with aquatic environments and can evoke imagery of ancient myths or folklore related to water creatures.
Strokes25Radical黽Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese mythology, large water creatures like the 鼉 may symbolize power and mystery, often appearing in stories that emphasize the connection between humans and nature, particularly in water bodies.
Memory Tip
Imagine a giant lizard swimming in a pond, its large body resembling a dragon. The character 鼉 has a radical that suggests 'water' (氵) and a component that resembles a creature, helping you remember that it refers to a large water-dwelling reptile.
Meanings of 鼉
tuó(tuo2)
1large reptile, water lizard
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About 鼉
鼉Simplified
25Strokes
黽Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 鼉
Podcast: 鼉
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AI Study Notes for 鼉
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a giant lizard swimming in a pond, its large body resembling a dragon. The character 鼉 has a radical that suggests 'water' (氵) and a component that resembles a creature, helping you remember that it refers to a large water-dwelling reptile.
Usage Notes
This character is rarely used in daily conversation and may appear more in literary contexts or discussions about reptiles. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words; 鼉 is quite specific in its meaning. The tone is important; ensure you pronounce it correctly as 'tuó'.
HSK Study Tips
Although 鼉 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it can be linked to other HSK words related to animals, especially those in HSK Level 3 and above. Focus on understanding its context in texts that discuss wildlife or folklore.
Cultural Note
In Chinese mythology, large water creatures like the 鼉 may symbolize power and mystery, often appearing in stories that emphasize the connection between humans and nature, particularly in water bodies.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mispronounce 鼉, saying it like 'tuò' with a falling tone instead of 'tuó'. Additionally, some might confuse it with related words for smaller lizards or snakes, which have different characters.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 鼉
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Cultural Notes for 鼉
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese mythology, large water creatures like the 鼉 may symbolize power and mystery, often appearing in stories that emphasize the connection between humans and nature, particularly in water bodies.
Word Family of 鼉
Words Containing This Character1
鼍tuóChinese alligator (Alligator sinensis)鼉
Exercise 1 of 1
Compound Meaning
What does 鼍 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 鼉
It refers to a large reptile, often associated with water lizards or giant salamanders.
No, it's more likely to be found in literary contexts or discussions about specific types of reptiles.
