鱀 (jì) - An extinct species of freshwater dolphin, historically found & also refers to the baiji or Chinese river

鱀Tone 4

jì ｜ 20 strokes ｜ radical:

慧佳

鱀 · jì

An extinct species of freshwater dolphin, historically found in the Yangtze River;

also refers to the baiji or Chinese river dolphin.

An extinct species of freshwater dolphin, historically foundalso refers to the baiji or Chinese river

Usage highlights

baiji dolphinYangtze River dolphinextinct dolphin speciesfreshwater dolphin鱀豚鱀鱼

Synonyms

  • 白鱀豚— baiji dolphin (specific species)
  • 江豚— finless porpoise (different but related species)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The baiji dolphin (白鱀豚) is functionally extinct.
  • Historical texts mention the 鱀 in the Yangtze River (长江).
  • The 鱀 was known for its long snout and pale color.
  • Conservation efforts for the 鱀 came too late.

Collocations

  • baiji dolphin(白鱀豚)
  • Yangtze River dolphin(长江鱀)
  • extinct dolphin species(鱀类)
  • freshwater dolphin(淡水鱀)
  • general term for the species(鱀豚)
  • historical name(鱀鱼)

Idioms

  • None specifically for this rare character

Cultural background

FAQ
  • The character 鱀 appears in ancient Chinese texts like the Erya, describing a type of river dolphin.
  • The baiji (白鱀豚) was a revered freshwater dolphin endemic to the Yangtze River system.
  • It represents one of the first dolphin species driven to extinction by human activity.
  • The character combines 'fish' radical with phonetic component, indicating an aquatic mammal.

FAQ