鲐 (tái) - Mackerel — a type of fish, specifically the & also used metaphorically to refer to old age

鲐Tone 2

tái ｜ 13 strokes ｜ radical:

树檀

鲐 · tái

Mackerel — a type of fish, specifically the chub mackerel;

also used metaphorically to refer to old age due to the phrase '鲐背之年' (advanced age).

Mackerel — a type of fish, specifically thealso used metaphorically to refer to old age

Usage highlights

MackerelChub mackerelAdvanced ageDried mackerelCanned mackerel

Synonyms

  • 鲭— mackerel (another term for mackerel fish)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The market sells fresh mackerel (新鲜鲐鱼).
  • He is in his advanced years (鲐背之年).
  • This dish is made with mackerel (用鲐鱼做的).

Collocations

  • Mackerel(鲐鱼)
  • Chub mackerel(鲐巴鱼)
  • Advanced age(鲐背之年)
  • Dried mackerel(鲐鱼干)
  • Canned mackerel(鲐鱼罐头)

Idioms

  • Advanced age(鲐背之年)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • The character 鲐 originally refers to the mackerel fish, commonly found in East Asian waters.
  • In classical Chinese, '鲐背' is a metaphor for old age, as the skin of the elderly was thought to resemble the mottled pattern of a mackerel's back.

FAQ