Definitions

(noun) fish

Etymology

Simplified form of . Pictograph of a fish.

About

The character for "fish" originated as a detailed pictograph of an aquatic creature, complete with a head, body, fins, and a tail. Over centuries of written use, this initial depiction was gradually stylized and streamlined into the traditional form 魚, which still schematically retains the key elements of a pointed head, a central body with scales represented by four dots, and a tailfin below. Its etymological meaning has remained constant, directly denoting the aquatic animal, while its cultural significance expanded, as the character’s pronunciation made it a common homophonic symbol for abundance and surplus in Chinese cultural expressions. This enduring pictographic foundation means that even in its most abstract modern forms, the character’s graphical connection to its meaning is still perceptible.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

在水里游。

Yú zài shuǐ lǐ yóu.

Fish swim in water.

我喜欢吃肉。

Wǒ xǐhuān chī yúròu.

I like to eat fish meat.

妈妈买了一条

Māma mǎile yī tiáo yú.

Mom bought a fish.

池塘里有很多

Chítáng lǐ yǒu hěn duō yú.

There are many fish in the pond.

是一项休闲活动。

Diàoyú shì yī xiàng xiūxián huódòng.

Fishing is a leisure activity.

类的种类非常丰富。

Yúlèi de zhǒnglèi fēicháng fēngfù.

The species of fish are very abundant.

保护海洋类资源很重要。

Bǎohù hǎiyáng yúlèi zīyuán hěn zhòngyào.

Protecting marine fish resources is very important.

科学家研究类的进化过程。

Kēxuéjiā yánjiū yúlèi de jìnhuà guòchéng.

Scientists study the evolution process of fish.