鱿
Character learning workspace

yóu · cuttlefish

Master the form, understand its parts, and learn how it behaves in real Chinese.

Watch · inspect · write

Learn every stroke in 鱿

Replay the complete order, pause on difficult movements, inspect one stroke at a time, then write it yourself with live correction.

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Stroke graphics: Make Me a Hanzi / Arphic Public License
Step-by-step explorer

See how 鱿 is constructed

Switch between the accumulated form and the isolated movement of each stroke.

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Writing notes

Shape and proportion

12Total strokes

Count each continuous pen movement once, including turns and hooks.

Left-rightCharacter structure

Keep the left side compact and leave enough room for the right side.

鱼Key radical

Use the highlighted radical in the animation as a visual anchor for remembering the form.

Print and practise

Download a 鱿 writing sheet

Get a ready-to-use A4 sheet immediately, or open the full builder to change its grid and guidance.

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Includes the stroke sequence, progressive tracing, and blank writing squares. Generated locally in your browser.

Read and listen

Example sentences

Notice where 鱿 sits in each complete thought.

Dāng zài cān guǎn lǐ shí, bù néng diǎn chǎo yóu yú.当在餐馆里时,不能点炒鱿鱼。

At the restaurant, do not order fried squid.

Source: Tatoeba #899095 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Nǐ hài pà bèi chǎo yóu yú ma?你害怕被炒鱿鱼吗?

Are you afraid of being fired?

Source: Tatoeba #8580980 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Yóu yú yǒu jǐ zhī shǒu?鱿鱼有几只手?

How many arms does a squid have?

Source: Tatoeba #2228389 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Sà mǐ yīn wèi tōu qiè bèi chǎo le yóu yú.萨米因为偷窃被炒了鱿鱼。

Sami was fired from his job for stealing.

Source: Tatoeba #12569641 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Turn reference into recall

How to study 鱿 in context

  1. Say yóu, then recall the core meaning: cuttlefish.
  2. Write all 12 strokes while keeping the left-right balanced.
  3. Use it in 鱿鱼 (yóu yú), meaning “squid”.
  4. Read the complete sentence aloud once, then cover the translation and explain how 鱿 works in that context.

Definitions and traditional forms are compiled from Make Me a Hanzi, HSK curriculum data, and CC-CEDICT. Sourced example sentences link to Tatoeba; editorial examples are labeled separately. Review data sources and licenses.