鲤

鯉

lǐ

里 + 鱼

Definitions

lǐ carp

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 鱼 represents the meaning and 里 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鯉.

Semantic: 鱼 Phonetic: 里

About

鲤 is a phono-semantic compound designating the carp, a freshwater fish rich in East Asian symbolism. The character combines the semantic radical 鱼, a simplification of 魚 'fish', and the phonetic component 里 (lǐ), which means village, a unit of distance, or inside. The traditional form 鯉 uses the unsimplified fish radical. Culturally, the carp embodies perseverance, prosperity, and success, famously captured in the legend of the Dragon Gate; a carp that summits the waterfall transforms into a dragon.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

池塘里有鲤鱼。

Chítáng lǐ yǒu lǐyú.

There are carp in the pond.

鲤鱼的颜色很美丽。

Lǐyú de yánsè hěn měilì.

The color of the carp is very beautiful.

我在市场上买鲤鱼。

Wǒ zài shìchǎng shàng mǎi lǐyú.

I buy carp at the market.

鲤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，我喂了池塘里的鲤鱼。

Zuótiān, wǒ wèi le chítáng lǐ de lǐyú.

Yesterday, I fed the carp in the pond.

如果水温合适，鲤鱼会生长得很快。

Rúguǒ shuǐwēn héshì, lǐyú huì shēngzhǎng de hěn kuài.

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

鲤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，鲤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.

Related Characters

Component: 里

Component: 鱼

鲤