鲛 (jiāo) - Shark & mermaid

鲛Tone 1

jiāo ｜ 14 strokes ｜ radical:

健傑

鲛 · jiāo

Shark;

mermaid;

legendary sea creature in Chinese mythology, often depicted as a fish with human features that weaves silk underwater.

Sharkmermaidlegendary sea creature in Chinese mythology, often depicted

Usage highlights

MermaidSharkJiaoshaJiaojingJiaoxiaoJiaozhu

Synonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The legendary mermaid was called a jiaoren (鲛人).
  • Shark skin is rough (鲛鲨皮).
  • In myths, jiaoren weave dragon绡 (鲛绡).
  • Ancient texts describe jiaoren shedding tears that turn into pearls (鲛人泣珠).

Collocations

  • Mermaid(鲛人)
  • Shark(鲛鲨)
  • Jiaosha(鲛鲨)
  • Jiaojing(鲛精)
  • Jiaoxiao(鲛绡)
  • Jiaozhu(鲛珠)

Idioms

  • Jiaoren weeps pearls(鲛人泣珠)
  • Jiaoxiao silk(鲛绡)
  • Jiaogong underwater palace(鲛宫)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Chinese mythology, jiaoren are mythical mermaid-like creatures that live in the South Sea, known for weaving a special silk called jiaoxiao and crying tears that become pearls.
  • The character appears in classical texts like Soushen Ji and is associated with maritime folklore.
  • Jiaoren symbolize transformation, mystery, and the connection between human and aquatic realms.

FAQ