About
鳄 is the definitive Chinese character for crocodiles, alligators, and other large amphibious reptiles. Structurally, it is a phono-semantic compound: the left side is the fish radical 鱼 (from traditional 魚), which acts as the semantic classifier. This choice shows how ancient observers categorized many river-dwelling animals under the fish category based on habitat, even though crocodiles are reptiles. The right side, 咢 (è), is the phonetic component that gives the character its pronunciation. The meaning of 鳄 has shifted from a general historical term for a water monster to a precise modern designation for the crocodilian order.
Example Sentences Hide
这是一条鳄鱼。
小心水里有鳄鱼。
鳄鱼是一种古老的动物。
动物园里有一条大鳄鱼。
美洲鳄生活在佛罗里达州。
他的眼泪被称作鳄鱼的眼泪。
这个名牌包是用鳄鱼皮制成的。
鳄鱼在湿地生态系统中扮演着关键角色。
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