比目鱼 (bǐ mù yú) — flatfish (especially flounder and righteye flounder); (figurative) inseparable lovers; devoted couple

Definition

Literally 'side-by-side fish', named for its flat body with both eyes on one side. Used figuratively for a devoted couple that is inseparable.

noun
flatfish (especially flounder and righteye flounder)(figurative) inseparable loversdevoted couple
Measure word · 条

Examples

  • 比目鱼。
    Zhè zhǒng bǐ mù yú shì cháng jiàn de shí yòng yú.
    This type of flatfish is a common food fish.
  • 比目鱼，。
    Tā men jiù xiàng yí duì bǐ mù yú, xíng yǐng bù lí.
    They are like a pair of inseparable lovers, always together.
  • ，比目鱼。
    Zài shuǐ zú guǎn lǐ, wǒ kàn dào jǐ tiáo bǐ mù yú.
    At the aquarium, I saw several flatfish.

Origin

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.

比目paired eyes
比bǐside by side目mùeye
偏正Modifier + head
鱼yúfish

比 (side by side) 目 (eyes) describe a 鱼 (fish) with paired eyes.

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.

  • 匕匕bǐ
  • 匕匕bǐ

比 is two 匕 placed side by side. Chu Wan-li treats both as sound parts, while an old reading takes the side-by-side arrangement as putting things next to each other.

Open 比 →

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

目 began as a drawing of a human eye, turned sideways.

Open 目 →

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.

Open 鱼 →
Appears in
Fish & Aquatic Life

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.