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鳐 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鳐yáothe nautilus; the rayg, 18 strokes, radical 鱼, rank #49928, Very Hard
鳐yáoskate (cartilaginous fish belonging to the family Rajidae)unknown, 18 strokes, radical 鱼, rank #49928, Very Hard
鳐yáoray (fish)unknown, 18 strokes, radical 鱼, rank #49928, Very Hard
yáo(yao2) T2
  1. 1the nautilus; the ray
  2. 2skate (cartilaginous fish belonging to the family Rajidae)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

鳐(鰩)yáo(yao2)

The character 鳐 (yáo) refers to a type of cartilaginous fish, particularly the ray or skate, which are known for their flattened bodies and wing-like pectoral fins. In a broader sense, it can also refer to the nautilus, a marine mollusk. This character is commonly used in discussions related to marine biology and aquatic life.

Strokes18Radical鱼Frequency#49928DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

Rays are often featured in Chinese marine culture and cuisine, particularly in coastal regions where seafood is a staple. The appreciation for such aquatic animals reflects the importance of the sea in Chinese traditions and lifestyles.

Memory Tip

Imagine a ray (like a flying fish) gliding through the water with its wings spread wide. The character 鳐 has the 'fish' radical 魚 (yú) at the bottom, reminding you that it is a type of fish. The pronunciation 'yáo' sounds like 'yowl,' which you might do when you see a stunning ray in the ocean.

Meanings of 鳐

yáo(yao2)
1the nautilus; the ray
2skate (cartilaginous fish belonging to the family Rajidae)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

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About 鳐

鳐Simplified
鰩Traditional
18Strokes
鱼Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鳐

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Podcast: 鳐

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AI Study Notes for 鳐

Usage Notes

A common mistake with 鳐 is confusing it with similar characters for other fish, such as 鮪 (tuna). This character is more often used in formal contexts, such as scientific discussions or literature. Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing it; 'yáo' has a rising tone, which is crucial for correct understanding.

HSK Study Tips

While 鳐 is not included in the HSK vocabulary list, it can be connected to HSK Level 4 and above vocabulary related to animals and nature. Learners should focus on understanding its context in marine biology terms and practice differentiating it from similar characters.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mispronounce 鳐 by confusing it with similar-sounding words, such as 腰 (yāo) meaning 'waist'. To correct this, focus on the rising tone of 鳐 (yáo) and practice distinguishing these two characters.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鳐

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Etymology of 鳐

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

fish

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 鳐

  1. 1The meaning half鱼 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half䍃 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 鳐? 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 鳐?

Decomposition of 鳐

IDS Structure⿰鱼䍃
鳐Full Character
=
鱼Yu2
left
䍃you2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 鳐?

How to say the nautilus; the ray in Chinese

“the nautilus; the ray” in Chinese is鳐yáo

The character 鳐 (yáo) refers to a type of cartilaginous fish, particularly the ray or skate, which are known for their flattened bodies and wing-like pectoral fins. In a broader sense, it can also refer to the nautilus, a marine mollusk. This character is commonly used in discussions related to marine biology and aquatic life.

When to use 鳐

A common mistake with 鳐 is confusing it with similar characters for other fish, such as 鮪 (tuna). This character is more often used in formal contexts, such as scientific discussions or literature. Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing it; 'yáo' has a rising tone, which is crucial for correct understanding.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mispronounce 鳐 by confusing it with similar-sounding words, such as 腰 (yāo) meaning 'waist'. To correct this, focus on the rising tone of 鳐 (yáo) and practice distinguishing these two characters.

Write 鳐

鳐

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

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Word Family of 鳐

Words Containing This Character1
鳐yáoray (fish)鰩
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 鳐 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鳐

In English, 鳐 can be referred to as a ray or skate, both of which are types of flat-bodied fish.

Jason Recommends

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Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.