鮎 (nián) - Catfish — refers to various species of catfish,

鮎Tone 2

nián ｜ 16 strokes ｜ radical:

楠念

鮎 · nián

Catfish — refers to various species of catfish, particularly the Amur catfish (Silurus asotus) found in East Asia.

Catfish — refers to various species of catfish,

Usage highlights

Amur catfishcatfish soupgiant catfishcatfish fishingcatfish speciesfreshwater catfish

Synonyms

  • 鯰— catfish (alternative character)
  • 鯰魚— catfish (common term)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • We caught a large catfish (大鮎) in the river.
  • Catfish soup is a local delicacy (鮎魚湯).
  • The catfish has smooth, scaleless skin (鮎魚的皮膚).
  • In Japanese folklore, the giant catfish causes earthquakes (大鮎).

Collocations

  • Amur catfish(鮎魚)
  • catfish soup(鮎魚湯)
  • giant catfish(大鮎)
  • catfish fishing(釣鮎)
  • catfish species(鮎類)
  • freshwater catfish(淡水鮎魚)

Idioms

  • Like a catfish on a chopping board(鮎魚上竹竿)
  • Catfish effect(鮎魚效應)
  • Big fish eat small fish, catfish eat mud(大魚吃小魚，鮎魚吃泥)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Japanese folklore, the giant catfish (Namazu) is believed to cause earthquakes when it thrashes.
  • In Chinese culture, catfish are associated with adaptability and survival in murky environments.
  • The 'catfish effect' metaphor describes how a competitive newcomer stimulates established players.

FAQ