鱿鱼 (yóu yú) — squid | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

squid

Measure word · 条

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

“鱿” names the squid, and “鱼” contributes the sense of a fish-like creature.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 魷; 鱿 is its simplified writing.

魚尤魷

Meaning part形符xíngfú

魚魚yúfish

Sound part声符shēngfú

尤

Same sound today

The traditional form 魷 uses 魚 to show it is a fish and 尤 to give its sound; the simplified 鱿 is a later shorthand.

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 魚; 鱼 is its simplified writing.

For 鱼, the traditional form 魚 is a picture of a fish.

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