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鼋 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鼋yuánlarge turtle, sea turtlens, 12 strokes, radical 龟
yuán(yuan2) T2
  1. 1large turtle, sea turtle
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

鼋(黿)yuán(yuan2)

The character 鼋 (yuán) refers specifically to a large turtle or sea turtle, often emphasizing its size and significance in various contexts. It can be used in literature or discussions about marine life, and it carries a sense of ancient wisdom and longevity associated with turtles in Chinese culture.

Strokes12Radical龟
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, turtles symbolize longevity and wisdom, often appearing in myths and folklore. The image of a sea turtle, or 鼋, reflects the deep respect for nature and the belief in the harmony between humans and the environment.

Memory Tip

Imagine a giant turtle (yuán) that carries the weight of the ocean on its back. The character 鼋 resembles the shell of a turtle, with the top part being the shell and the bottom part representing its legs. Picture this turtle slowly moving through the water, a symbol of endurance and stability.

Meanings of 鼋

yuán(yuan2)
1large turtle, sea turtle
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 鼋

鼋Simplified
黿Traditional
12Strokes
龟Radical
地名míngcíplace name (p.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鼋

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Podcast: 鼋

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AI Study Notes for 鼋

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 鼋 (yuán) with other turtle-related words, such as 龟 (guī), which generally refers to smaller turtles. This word is somewhat formal and might be used in literature or environmental discussions rather than in casual conversation.

HSK Study Tips

Although 鼋 is not included in HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to the theme of animals found in HSK Level 3 and 4, where learners explore more specific terminology. Students should focus on pronunciation and recognizing the character components to enhance their reading skills.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 鼋 (yuán) with 龟 (guī) and use them interchangeably, which can lead to misunderstandings. Remember that 鼋 refers to larger sea turtles, while 龟 is for smaller ones.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鼋

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Etymology of 鼋

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

toad

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 鼋

  1. 1The meaning half黾 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half元 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaytoad
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 鼋? 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 鼋?

Decomposition of 鼋

IDS Structure⿱元黾
鼋Full Character
=
元Yuan2
top
黾mian3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 鼋?

How to say large turtle, sea turtle in Chinese

“large turtle, sea turtle” in Chinese is鼋yuán

The character 鼋 (yuán) refers specifically to a large turtle or sea turtle, often emphasizing its size and significance in various contexts. It can be used in literature or discussions about marine life, and it carries a sense of ancient wisdom and longevity associated with turtles in Chinese culture.

When to use 鼋

Be careful not to confuse 鼋 (yuán) with other turtle-related words, such as 龟 (guī), which generally refers to smaller turtles. This word is somewhat formal and might be used in literature or environmental discussions rather than in casual conversation.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 鼋 (yuán) with 龟 (guī) and use them interchangeably, which can lead to misunderstandings. Remember that 鼋 refers to larger sea turtles, while 龟 is for smaller ones.

Write 鼋

鼋

Practice writing 鼋 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 鼋

Words Containing This Character2
鼋yuánsea turtle黿
鼋鱼soft-shelled turtle黿魚
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 鼋 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鼋

While both refer to turtles, 鼋 (yuán) specifically denotes larger sea turtles, whereas 龟 (guī) is more general and often refers to smaller freshwater turtles.

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