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鳗 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鳗máneeln, 19 strokes, radical 鱼, rank #40786, Very Hard
鳗mánAnguilla lostoniensisunknown, 19 strokes, radical 鱼, rank #40786, Very Hard
mán(man2) T2
  1. 1eel
  2. 2Anguilla lostoniensis
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

鳗(鰻)mán(man2)

The character 鳗 (mán) refers specifically to eel, a type of elongated fish commonly found in both freshwater and saltwater. Eels are often used in various cuisines, particularly in Asian dishes like sushi and grilled preparations. The term can also denote specific species of eels, such as the Anguilla lostoniensis, highlighting its relevance in culinary and ecological contexts.

Strokes19Radical鱼Frequency#40786DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese cuisine, eel is considered a delicacy and is often eaten during the summer months for its supposed health benefits, such as boosting energy. Dishes like grilled eel (鳗鱼) are popular in many regions, reflecting the importance of eels in local gastronomy.

Memory Tip

Imagine an eel slithering through water, and think of the character 鳗 as a fish swimming in the sea. The top part 鳥 (bird) can remind you of something alive, while the bottom part 魚 (fish) is a clear indicator of its aquatic nature. 'Mán' sounds like 'man' trying to catch an eel!

Meanings of 鳗

mán(man2)
1eel
2Anguilla lostoniensis
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 鳗

鳗Simplified
鰻Traditional
19Strokes
鱼Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鳗

JasonAmy

Podcast: 鳗

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AI Study Notes for 鳗

Quick Contrast

鳝 (shàn) refers to snakehead fish, which is often confused with 鳗 (mán) due to their similar culinary uses, but 鳗 specifically denotes eel.

Usage Notes

When using the word 鳗, be cautious of its specific meaning; it generally refers to eel rather than fish in general. It's often used in culinary contexts, so it may appear in menus or recipes. Avoid confusion with similar-sounding words like 鳕 (xuě), which means cod.

HSK Study Tips

Though 鳗 is not part of the standard HSK vocabulary, it connects with food-related terms and can enhance your understanding of culinary discussions in Chinese. Students should focus on the radicals related to animals and food as they build their vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 鳗 with other types of fish, such as 鳕 (cod) or 鲑 (salmon), which can lead to incorrect usage in culinary contexts. Remember, 鳗 specifically refers to eel.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鳗

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Etymology of 鳗

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 鱼 represents the meaning and 曼 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鰻.

Memory Hint

fish

Semantic (meaning)鱼
+
Phonetic (sound)曼
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 鳗

Phonosemantic compound. 鱼 represents the meaning and 曼 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鰻.

  1. 1The meaning half鱼 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half曼 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayfish
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 鳗? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 鳗?

Decomposition of 鳗

IDS Structure⿰鱼曼
鳗Full Character
=
鱼Yu2
left
曼man4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 鳗?

How to say eel in Chinese

“eel” in Chinese is鳗mán

The character 鳗 (mán) refers specifically to eel, a type of elongated fish commonly found in both freshwater and saltwater. Eels are often used in various cuisines, particularly in Asian dishes like sushi and grilled preparations. The term can also denote specific species of eels, such as the Anguilla lostoniensis, highlighting its relevance in culinary and ecological contexts.

When to use 鳗

When using the word 鳗, be cautious of its specific meaning; it generally refers to eel rather than fish in general. It's often used in culinary contexts, so it may appear in menus or recipes. Avoid confusion with similar-sounding words like 鳕 (xuě), which means cod.

鳗 or something close to it

鳝 (shàn) refers to snakehead fish, which is often confused with 鳗 (mán) due to their similar culinary uses, but 鳗 specifically denotes eel.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 鳗 with other types of fish, such as 鳕 (cod) or 鲑 (salmon), which can lead to incorrect usage in culinary contexts. Remember, 鳗 specifically refers to eel.

Write 鳗

鳗

Practice writing 鳗 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 鳗

Words Containing This Character4
鳗鱼eel鰻魚
鳗máneel鰻
电鳗electric eel電鰻
鳗鲡eel鰻鱺
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 鳗鱼 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鳗

鳗 is often used in sushi and grilled dishes, especially in Japanese and Chinese cuisines.

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