鯤 (kūn) - Kun — a legendary giant fish or sea & symbolizes vastness, transformation, and potential.

鯤Tone 1

kūn ｜ 19 strokes ｜ radical:

俊梁

鯤 · kūn

Kun — a legendary giant fish or sea monster in Chinese mythology, said to transform into a giant bird called Peng;

symbolizes vastness, transformation, and potential.

Kun — a legendary giant fish or seasymbolizes vastness, transformation, and potential.

Usage highlights

Kun fishKun Peng transformationNorthern Sea KunKun whaleGiant KunKun transforms into Peng

Synonyms

  • 鹏— Peng — the giant bird into which Kun transforms
  • 巨鱼— giant fish

Antonyms

  • 小鱼— small fish (antonym in scale)
  • 凡鸟— ordinary bird (antonym to the mythical Peng)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The Kun transforms into the Peng (鲲化为鹏).
  • Zhuangzi's parable of the Kun (庄子寓言中的鲲).
  • The Kun fish in the Northern Sea (北冥之鲲).

Collocations

  • Kun fish(鲲鱼)
  • Kun Peng transformation(鲲鹏之变)
  • Northern Sea Kun(北冥鲲)
  • Kun whale(鲲鲸)
  • Giant Kun(巨鲲)
  • Kun transforms into Peng(鲲化鹏)

Idioms

  • The Kun transforms into the Peng, soaring 90,000 li(鲲鹏展翅九万里)
  • Kun Peng changes form(鲲鹏变化)
  • The Kun in the Northern Sea(北冥有鲲)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originates from the Daoist classic Zhuangzi, representing transformation and the boundless.
  • Symbolizes immense potential and the Daoist ideal of transcending ordinary limits.
  • Used in literature and art to depict grandeur and metamorphosis.

FAQ