Definitions

carp

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character for carp, traditionally written as 鯉 and simplified to 鲤, structurally combines the fish radical 魚 (simplified to 鱼) with the phonetic component 里, a formation that has consistently denoted its piscine category and guided its pronunciation since its early use. While the core meaning of the character has steadfastly referred to the specific fish species, its semantic scope has been enriched through cultural assimilation, where the carp became emblematic of perseverance and good fortune in stories and artistic motifs, though without departing from its primary zoological reference. The evolution of its written form involved a simplification of the radical while preserving the phonetic element, maintaining the character's etymological integrity across versions.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

池塘里有鱼。

Chítáng lǐ yǒu lǐyú.

There are carp in the pond.

鱼的颜色很美丽。

Lǐyú de yánsè hěn měilì.

The color of the carp is very beautiful.

我在市场上买鱼。

Wǒ zài shìchǎng shàng mǎi lǐyú.

I buy carp at the market.

鱼喜欢在清澈的水中生活。

Lǐyú xǐhuān zài qīngchè de shuǐ zhōng shēnghuó.

Carp like to live in clear water.

昨天,我喂了池塘里的鱼。

Zuótiān, wǒ wèi le chítáng lǐ de lǐyú.

Yesterday, I fed the carp in the pond.

如果水温合适,鱼会生长得很快。

Rúguǒ shuǐwēn héshì, lǐyú huì shēngzhǎng de hěn kuài.

If the water temperature is suitable, carp will grow very quickly.

鱼是一种常见的食用鱼,很多人喜欢养殖它。

Lǐyú shì yī zhǒng chángjiàn de shíyòng yú, hěn duō rén xǐhuān yǎngzhí tā.

Carp is a common food fish, and many people like to farm it.

在亚洲文化中,鱼常常象征着好运和坚持不懈的精神。

Zài Yàzhōu wénhuà zhōng, lǐyú chángcháng xiàngzhēng zhe hǎoyùn hé jiānchí bùxiè de jīngshén.

In Asian culture, carp often symbolize good luck and the spirit of perseverance.