珧 (yáo) - A type of large marine bivalve mollusk, especially & historically used for mother-of-pearl inlay work.

珧Tone 2

yáo ｜ 10 strokes ｜ radical:

嬿一

珧 · yáo

A type of large marine bivalve mollusk, especially the pen shell or fan mussel;

historically used for mother-of-pearl inlay work.

A type of large marine bivalve mollusk, especiallyhistorically used for mother-of-pearl inlay work.

Usage highlights

Pen shellYao column/adductor muscleYao decorationYao inlayYao shellYao ware

Synonyms

  • 江珧— Pen shell (specific species)
  • 贝— Shell (general term)
  • 蚌— Clam, freshwater mussel

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The pen shell (江珧) is a type of large saltwater clam.
  • Mother-of-pearl inlay (珧珌) was used in ancient decorations.
  • The Yao column (珧柱) refers to the adductor muscle of the scallop used in cooking.
  • This artifact has yao shell decoration (珧饰).

Collocations

  • Pen shell(江珧)
  • Yao column/adductor muscle(珧柱)
  • Yao decoration(珧饰)
  • Yao inlay(珧珌)
  • Yao shell(珧贝)
  • Yao ware(珧器)

Idioms

  • None specifically featuring this character prominently

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Historically valued for its iridescent shell, used in decorative inlay work (like mother-of-pearl) in ancient China.
  • The adductor muscle of the pen shell (珧柱) is a prized ingredient in Chinese cuisine, especially in soups and congee.
  • The character appears in classical texts describing marine life and luxury materials.

FAQ