鰯 (ruò) - Sardine — a small, oily fish of the

鰯Tone 4

ruò ｜ 21 strokes ｜ radical:

儒三

鰯 · ruò

Sardine — a small, oily fish of the herring family, commonly used in Japanese cuisine.

Sardine — a small, oily fish of the

Usage highlights

Japanese sardineGrilled sardineSardine dishSardine fishingSardine canSardine paste

Synonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • We grilled sardines for dinner (焼き鰯).
  • Sardines are rich in omega-3 (鰯のオメガ3).
  • This is a Japanese sardine dish (鰯料理).
  • Canned sardines are convenient (缶詰の鰯).

Collocations

  • Japanese sardine(鰯)
  • Grilled sardine(焼き鰯)
  • Sardine dish(鰯料理)
  • Sardine fishing(鰯漁)
  • Sardine can(鰯缶)
  • Sardine paste(鰯ペースト)

Idioms

  • Weak as a sardine(鰯の頭も信心から)
  • Sardine's head also from faith(鰯の頭も信心から)
  • Even a sardine can become a whale(鰯も一期、鯨も一期)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • 鰯 is a Japanese kokuji (国字) character created in Japan, not derived from Chinese.
  • The character combines fish (魚) and weak (弱), referring to the sardine's delicate nature and short lifespan.
  • In Japanese cuisine, sardines are commonly used grilled, dried, or in dashi broth.
  • Sardines have symbolic meaning in Japanese culture representing humility and transience.

FAQ