虾 (xiā) — shrimp, prawn
Definition
虾 is the general word for 'shrimp/prawn' — a specific kind of 海鲜 (seafood). Use 虾 when naming the animal or the dish; use 海鲜 when referring to the broader category.
noun
shrimpprawn
Measure word · 只
Examples
- 虾。Wǒ diǎn le yì pán xiā.I ordered a plate of shrimp.
- 虾。Mā ma zuò de xiā hěn hǎo chī.Mom's shrimp is delicious.
- 虾。Zhè ge chāo shì de xiā hěn pián yi.The shrimp at this supermarket is very cheap.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost 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 蝦; 虾 is its simplified writing.
Sound part声符shēngfú
叚
叚jiǎ蝦xiā
Same sound today
In the traditional form 蝦, 虫 is the insect part and 叚 is the sound part; the simplified 虾 is a later abbreviation.
Appears in
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