鳞 (lín) — scales (of fish, reptiles, etc.)

Definition

noun

scales (of fish, reptiles, etc.)

Measure word · 片

Easily confused

。
Zhè tiáo yú de lín piàn hěn piào liang.
The scales of this fish are very beautiful.
。
Shé de lín piàn kě yǐ yòng lái bǎo hù shēn tǐ.
Snake scales can be used to protect the body.
。
Kē xué jiā yán jiū le zhè zhǒng yú de lín piàn jié gòu.
Scientists have studied the scale structure of this fish.

Sound + meaning

六书liùshū

形声xíngshēng

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 鱗; 鳞 is its simplified writing.

魚粦鱗

Meaning part形符xíngfú

魚魚yúfish

Sound part声符shēngfú

粦

粦lín鱗lín

Same sound today

The traditional form 鱗 combines 魚 (fish) with 粦 to mark the sound; the simplified 鳞 is a later shorthand, so the story is about 鱗.

Appears in