鲷 (diāo) - Sea bream — a type of marine fish

鲷Tone 1

diāo ｜ 16 strokes ｜ radical:

橙丁

鲷 · diāo

Sea bream — a type of marine fish in the family Sparidae, known for its delicious taste and often featured in Japanese cuisine as tai.

Sea bream — a type of marine fish

Usage highlights

Red sea breamSea bream sashimiGrilled sea breamSea bream headSea bream soupBlack sea bream

Synonyms

  • 鲷鱼— sea bream (general term)
  • 真鲷— red sea bream (Pagrus major)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • We ordered grilled sea bream (烤鲷鱼) at the restaurant.
  • This sushi features red sea bream (真鲷).
  • Sea bream is considered a festive fish in Japan (鲷在日本是吉祥的鱼).
  • The chef prepared sea bream sashimi (鲷鱼刺身).

Collocations

  • Red sea bream(真鲷)
  • Sea bream sashimi(鲷鱼刺身)
  • Grilled sea bream(烤鲷鱼)
  • Sea bream head(鲷鱼头)
  • Sea bream soup(鲷鱼汤)
  • Black sea bream(黑鲷)

Idioms

  • The tail of the sea bream does not stink (鲷之尾不臭) — meaning something good remains good to the end
  • Even a sea bream cannot live if taken out of water (离水之鲷难存) — talent needs the right environment
  • A sea bream in the net (网中之鲷) — someone caught in a trap

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Japanese culture, sea bream (tai) is considered an auspicious fish, often served at celebrations and festive occasions.
  • The character combines the fish radical 鱼 with 周, suggesting its widespread distribution or complete/perfect form.
  • In Chinese culinary tradition, sea bream is valued for its firm, white flesh and delicate flavor.

FAQ