鰕 (xiā) - Shrimp & prawn

鰕Tone 1

xiā ｜ 20 strokes ｜ radical:

万响

鰕 · xiā

Shrimp;

prawn;

also refers to small crustaceans in general.

Shrimpprawnalso refers to small crustaceans in general.

Usage highlights

Shrimp dumplingsDried shrimpPrawn crackerLobsterShrimp pasteFreshwater shrimp

Synonyms

  • 虾— Shrimp; prawn (simplified form)
  • 海米— Dried shrimp

Antonyms

  • 龙— Dragon (representing large, powerful creature)
  • 鲸— Whale (large marine animal)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • We ordered shrimp dumplings (虾饺).
  • The aquarium has many colorful shrimp (观赏虾).
  • Dried shrimp is used in cooking (虾米).
  • He caught a large prawn (大虾) while fishing.

Collocations

  • Shrimp dumplings(虾饺)
  • Dried shrimp(虾米)
  • Prawn cracker(虾片)
  • Lobster(龙虾)
  • Shrimp paste(虾酱)
  • Freshwater shrimp(淡水虾)

Idioms

  • Shrimp soldiers and crab generals (虾兵蟹将) — incompetent troops
  • A shrimp in a dry ditch (涸辙之鲋) — someone in desperate straits
  • A prawn thinking it's a whale (虾蟆想吃天鹅肉) — unrealistic ambition

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Chinese cuisine, shrimp symbolizes happiness and good fortune, often served at celebratory meals.
  • In Chinese mythology, shrimp soldiers serve as the marine army of the Dragon King.
  • The character appears in classical texts like Zhuangzi, representing small but significant creatures.

FAQ