鯫 (zōu) - small fish & insignificant person

鯫Tone 1

zōu ｜ 19 strokes ｜ radical:

志

鯫 · zōu

small fish;

insignificant person;

petty;

contemptible;

mean

small fishinsignificant personpetty

Usage highlights

petty personsmall fishpetty scholarinsignificant officialmean individualcontemptible talk

Synonyms

Antonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He is just a petty official (鯫生).
  • They caught some small fish (鯫鱼) in the net.
  • Don't listen to that contemptible person's words (鯫儒之言).

Collocations

  • petty person(鯫生)
  • small fish(鯫鱼)
  • petty scholar(鯫儒)
  • insignificant official(鯫吏)
  • mean individual(鯫鄙)
  • contemptible talk(鯫论)

Idioms

  • A petty scholar with shallow views(鯫生之见)
  • The talk of a contemptible person(鯫生之言)
  • Petty and vulgar(鯫鄙不堪)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally referred to small, insignificant fish in classical Chinese texts.
  • Later extended metaphorically to describe people of low status, petty officials, or those with narrow views.
  • Often used in historical contexts to express contempt or disdain for someone's low status or petty nature.

FAQ