How to Write 鲟 (xún) — Meaning “Sturgeon”

Imagine a sturgeon fish (鱼) always searching (寻) for food along the riverbed. The sound "xún" is like "soon", so you can think: "Soon you will see a sturgeon."

Pay attention to the right side 寻: it has a 彐 (three horizontal strokes) on top and a 寸 (with a hook) below — do not confuse the hook stroke with a simple vertical. Also, the left radical 鱼's last horizontal stroke should be slightly longer but not extend past the right side.

The right side is different: 鲟 has 寻 (xún), 鱿 has 尤 (yóu) meaning "especially", and 鲁 has 日 (rì) meaning "sun". Visually, 鱿 is used for squid, 鲁 is an adjective or place name, while 鲟 specifically means sturgeon fish.

鲟 appears in words like 鲟鱼 (sturgeon) and 中华鲟 (Chinese sturgeon), a protected species in China. It is also used in 鲟鱼子 (caviar), a luxury food. You will mostly see this character in biology, cuisine, or environmental contexts.

Common words containing 鲟 include: 鲟鱼 (xún yú) — Sturgeon; 中华鲟 (zhōng huá xún) — Chinese sturgeon; 鲟鱼子 (xún yú zi) — Caviar / Sturgeon roe.