章鱼
zhāngyú
The Chinese word for octopus is 章鱼 (zhāngyú).
The term refers to the mollusc known as an octopus.
Meaning: mollusc (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The alternative name 八爪鱼 literally means 'eight-clawed fish'.
Which one should you use?
八爪鱼 is a common alternative name for octopus.
How does it change in a sentence?
When counting octopuses, use the classifier 只 (zhī) instead of the general classifier 个 (gè). For example, use 一只章鱼 to say one octopus.
How do you pronounce it?
zhāngyú
Did you know?
- In some regional dialects, the term 八爪鱼 is used colloquially to describe a person who is multitasking or trying to handle too many things at once.
- The character 章 in 章鱼 originally meant a seal or a mark, likely referring to the intricate patterns on an octopus's skin.
- In Chinese culinary culture, octopuses are often served as 八爪鱼 in a style where the tentacles are curled and scored to create a flower-like appearance.
Examples in context
- 我从没吃过活的章鱼。I've never eaten a live octopus.This sentence shows how to use the word 章鱼 when talking about eating live animals.Tatoeba #14023309 by jan_OkulaJu, translation #953922 by CK
- 海底的岩石缝里藏着一只章鱼。The crevice in the boulder on the ocean floor conceals an octopus.This sentence illustrates the use of 章鱼 when describing an animal hiding in the ocean.Tatoeba #13847502 by LeviHighway, translation #13849964 by DaoSeng
- 章鱼有几只手？How many arms does an octopus have?This sentence uses 章鱼 to ask about the number of arms an octopus possesses.Tatoeba #2228388 by Tximist, translation #2228387 by Tximist
- 我非常喜欢八爪鱼的智慧和美丽。I really admire the intelligence and beauty of octopuses.
- 我们晚餐吃了烤章鱼，味道太棒了！We had grilled octopus for dinner, and it was delicious!
Example conversation
A man and a woman are looking at a seafood menu at a restaurant.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen你想吃章鱼吗？Nǐ xiǎng chī zhāngyú ma?Do you want to eat octopus?
- 伟 Wei我想尝试一下章鱼。Wǒ xiǎng chángshì yīxià zhāngyú.I want to try some octopus.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen这里的章鱼很新鲜。Zhèlǐ de zhāngyú hěn xīnxiān.The octopus here is very fresh.
- 伟 Wei那我们就点章鱼吧。Nà wǒmen jiù diǎn zhāngyú ba.Then let's order the octopus.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
