獭 (tǎ) - Otter — a semiaquatic mammal with webbed feet & also refers to the sea otter.

獭Tone 3

tǎ ｜ 16 strokes ｜ radical:

树檀

獭 · tǎ

Otter — a semiaquatic mammal with webbed feet and dense fur that feeds on fish;

also refers to the sea otter.

Otter — a semiaquatic mammal with webbed feetalso refers to the sea otter.

Usage highlights

river ottersea otterotter furotter huntingotter speciesotter's den

Synonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The otter (水獭) is swimming in the river.
  • We saw a sea otter (海獭) at the aquarium.
  • Otters have very dense fur (獭皮).
  • The otter is hunting for fish (獭捕鱼).

Collocations

  • river otter(水獭)
  • sea otter(海獭)
  • otter fur(獭皮)
  • otter hunting(捕獭)
  • otter species(獭类)
  • otter's den(獭穴)

Idioms

  • Like an otter sacrificing fish(獭祭鱼)
  • Otter offering fish(獭祭)
  • The otter knows the seasonal changes(獭知时节)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In ancient Chinese natural observation, otters were noted for their habit of laying out caught fish, which inspired the literary term '獭祭'.
  • '獭祭' metaphorically describes a writer who displays numerous reference books, similar to an otter displaying fish.
  • Otters appear in traditional Chinese medicine and fur trade contexts historically.
  • The character is considered relatively rare in modern usage outside specific zoological or literary contexts.

FAQ