() - fish & surname Yu

Tone 2

yú | 8 strokes | radical: 鱼

·

fish;

surname Yu;

used metaphorically for something desirable or abundant.

fishsurname Yuused metaphorically for something desirable or abundant.

Usage highlights

fishfishinggoldfishfish marketfish tankfish head

Synonyms

  • 鱼类fish (as a category)

Antonyms

  • 熊掌bear's paw (from the idiom 鱼与熊掌不可兼得)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • There are many fish in the pond (池塘里有很多鱼).
  • I like eating fish (我喜欢吃鱼).
  • He goes fishing every weekend (他每个周末都去钓鱼).
  • This is a goldfish (这是金鱼).

Collocations

  • fish()
  • fishing(钓鱼)
  • goldfish(金鱼)
  • fish market(鱼市)
  • fish tank(鱼缸)
  • fish head(鱼头)

Idioms

  • Like fish in water(如鱼得水)
  • Sitting on a fishing platform waiting for rabbits(守株待兔 - though not directly with 鱼, often contrasted)
  • Fish and bear's paw cannot both be had(鱼与熊掌不可兼得)
  • Stir up the water to catch fish(浑水摸鱼)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Fish symbolize abundance and surplus in Chinese culture, often associated with the phrase '年年有余' (surplus every year), where 余 (surplus) is a homophone of 鱼 (fish).
  • Fish are a common motif in Chinese art and festivals, especially during Chinese New Year, representing prosperity and good fortune.
  • In Daoist philosophy, fish often represent freedom and happiness, as in the phrase '如鱼得水' (like a fish in water).

FAQ