Definitions

è (noun) crocodile; alligator

Etymology phono-semantic

fish

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "鳄", meaning crocodile, is a semantic-phonetic compound where the radical "鱼" indicates its category as a fish-like aquatic creature and the component "咢" provides phonetic guidance. Its traditional form "鱷" follows the same structural principle, employing the traditional radical "魚" alongside the unchanged phonetic "咢". Etymologically, this character has consistently denoted large reptilian animals such as crocodiles and alligators, with its meaning remaining focused on this zoological classification throughout its documented use.

Example Sentences Hide

这是一条鱼。

Zhè shì yī tiáo è yú.

This is a crocodile.

小心水里有鱼。

Xiǎoxīn shuǐ lǐ yǒu è yú.

Be careful, there are crocodiles in the water.

鱼是一种古老的动物。

È yú shì yī zhǒng gǔlǎo de dòngwù.

The crocodile is an ancient animal.

动物园里有一条大鱼。

Dòngwùyuán lǐ yǒu yī tiáo dà è yú.

There is a big crocodile in the zoo.

美洲生活在佛罗里达州。

Měizhōu è shēnghuó zài Fóluólídá zhōu.

The American alligator lives in Florida.

他的眼泪被称作鱼的眼泪。

Tā de yǎnlèi bèi chēng zuò è yú de yǎnlèi.

His tears are called crocodile tears.

这个名牌包是用鱼皮制成的。

Zhège míngpái bāo shì yòng è yú pí zhì chéng de.

This designer bag is made from crocodile leather.

鱼在湿地生态系统中扮演着关键角色。

È yú zài shīdì shēngtài xìtǒng zhōng bànyǎn zhe guānjiàn juésè.

Crocodiles play a key role in the wetland ecosystem.