黿 (yuán) - Large soft-shelled turtle — refers to the Asian

黿Tone 2

yuán ｜ 17 strokes ｜ radical:

喻悦

黿 · yuán

Large soft-shelled turtle — refers to the Asian giant softshell turtle (Pelochelys cantorii), a large freshwater turtle species found in Southeast Asia.

Large soft-shelled turtle — refers to the Asian

Usage highlights

Giant softshell turtleTurtle shellRiver turtleTurtle and alligatorTurtle spiritTurtle as mythical creature

Synonyms

  • 鳖— softshell turtle (general term)
  • 龟— turtle or tortoise

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The giant softshell turtle (鼋) is an endangered species.
  • This river is home to softshell turtles (鼋).
  • Ancient texts mention the giant turtle (鼋) in mythology.
  • The turtle's shell (鼋甲) was sometimes used in traditional crafts.

Collocations

  • Giant softshell turtle(鼋)
  • Turtle shell(鼋甲)
  • River turtle(江鼋)
  • Turtle and alligator(鼋鼍)
  • Turtle spirit(鼋精)
  • Turtle as mythical creature(神鼋)

Idioms

  • The turtle carries the mountains(鼋负山)
  • Turtle and fish in the dried marsh(鼋鼍鱼鳖)
  • The turtle of the Yangtze(江鼋)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Chinese mythology, the giant turtle (鼋) is often depicted as a magical or divine creature capable of carrying sacred objects.
  • The character appears in classical texts like the 'Classic of Mountains and Seas' (山海经) describing mythical turtles.
  • In some regional folklore, giant turtles were believed to be river deities or guardians.

FAQ