鮒 (fù) - Crucian carp & a small freshwater fish species (Carassius auratus) commonly

鮒Tone 4

fù ｜ 16 strokes ｜ radical:

枫惠

鮒 · fù

Crucian carp;

a small freshwater fish species (Carassius auratus) commonly found in East Asia;

also used metaphorically for someone in humble circumstances.

Crucian carpa small freshwater fish species (Carassius auratus) commonlyalso used metaphorically for someone in humble circumstances.

Usage highlights

crucian carpdriedsteamed crucian carpcrucian carp scalecrucian carp soupbraised crucian carp

Synonyms

  • 鲫鱼— crucian carp (more common modern term)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • We caught several crucian carp (鲫鱼) in the pond.
  • This dish features steamed crucian carp (清蒸鲫鱼).
  • In the fable, the fish in the dry rut was a crucian carp (涸辙之鲋).
  • Crucian carp soup (鲫鱼汤) is believed to have nutritional benefits.

Collocations

  • crucian carp(鲫鱼)
  • dried-up rut crucian carp(涸辙之鲋)
  • steamed crucian carp(清蒸鲫鱼)
  • crucian carp scale(鲫鱼鳞)
  • crucian carp soup(鲫鱼汤)
  • braised crucian carp(红烧鲫鱼)

Idioms

  • A fish in a dry rut (涸辙之鲋) — someone in desperate circumstances
  • The carp in the dried carriage track (涸辙之鲋) — metaphor for urgent need
  • Like a fish gasping in a dry rut (如鲋在涸) — in dire straits

Cultural background

FAQ
  • The crucian carp appears in Zhuangzi's fable 'The Fish in the Dry Rut' as a metaphor for desperate need.
  • In Chinese culinary tradition, crucian carp is valued for its tender meat and nutritional properties.
  • The character combines the fish radical (魚) with the phonetic component 付, indicating its pronunciation.

FAQ