钓 (diào) - to angle & to fish with a hook and line

钓Tone 4

diào ｜ 8 strokes ｜ radical: 钅

橙丁

钓 · diào

to angle;

to fish with a hook and line;

to angle for (figuratively, to seek by artful means);

to pursue (as fame or profit)

to angleto fish with a hook and lineto angle for (figuratively, to seek by artful

Usage highlights

to fishfishing rodfishing hookfishing linefishing spotfishing enthusiast

Synonyms

  • 渔— to fish (more general term)
  • 垂钓— to angle; to fish with a rod

Antonyms

  • 放— to release; to let go (as in releasing fish)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He likes to go fishing on weekends (钓鱼).
  • She is angling for a promotion at work (钓取 promotion).
  • This is a fishing rod (钓竿).
  • Fishing requires patience (钓鱼需要耐心).

Collocations

  • to fish(钓鱼)
  • fishing rod(钓竿)
  • fishing hook(钓钩)
  • fishing line(钓线)
  • fishing spot(钓点)
  • fishing enthusiast(钓友)

Idioms

  • To angle for fame and reputation(沽名钓誉)
  • The old fisherman of Jiangzhou(姜太公钓鱼)
  • To fish in troubled waters(浑水摸鱼, conceptually related)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Fishing has a long history in China as both a sustenance activity and a leisure pursuit.
  • The character appears in the idiom '姜太公钓鱼' (Jiang Taigong fishing), which refers to Jiang Ziya of the Zhou dynasty who fished without a bait, waiting for those who would take the initiative – symbolizing a strategy to attract willing talent or opportunity.
  • The metaphorical use 'to angle for' reflects the idea of using bait or strategy to attract something desired.

FAQ