How to Write 鳙 (yōng) — Meaning “bighead carp”

Picture a "young" (sounds like yōng) fish with an unusually large head swimming in a pond. The right part 庸 looks like a large head on a small body — representing the bighead carp's distinctive appearance. This visual helps link the character to the fish it names.

First write the left radical 鱼: the bottom horizontal stroke turns upward into a lift (ti). Then write the right part 庸: start with 广, then write 用 inside — pay attention to the vertical stroke that goes through the middle of 用 from top to bottom. A common mistake is confusing the stroke order inside 庸, so practice the sequence carefully.

The main visual difference is the right-side component. 鳙 has 庸 (with a roof and 用 inside), 鲼 has 贲 (with a shell-like top and 贝 below), and 鲽 has 枼 (a leaf shape). In meaning, they are different fish: 鳙 is bighead carp, 鲼 is a ray fish, and 鲽 is a flatfish (halibut or flounder).

鳙 appears mainly in food and cooking contexts, especially referring to the bighead carp used in soups and steamed dishes. The term 鳙鱼头 (bighead carp head) is very popular in Chinese cuisine, often served in spicy broth or steamed with ginger. Culturally, eating fish head is considered lucky and nourishing, so 鳙 is a common ingredient in festive meals.

Common words containing 鳙 include: 鳙鱼 (yōng yú) — bighead carp; 鳙鱼头 (yōng yú tóu) — bighead carp head; 大头鳙 (dà tóu yōng) — Bighead carp.