海鲜

• Pinyin: hǎi xiān
• Hanzi breakdown: 海 = 氵(water) + 每 (every, phonetic) — the sea; 鲜 = 鱼 (fish) + 羊 (sheep) — the freshest flavours from land and sea

Meaning

Seafood. A general term for edible marine animals and plants, including fish, shrimp, crab, and shellfish.

A very common word in Chinese food culture. Coastal cities in China are particularly famous for their seafood. Common collocations include 海鲜市场 (seafood market), 海鲜大餐 (seafood feast), and 海鲜过敏 (seafood allergy). China has a rich tradition of seafood cuisine, especially in provinces like Guangdong, Fujian, and Zhejiang.

Examples

1. 我对海鲜过敏，不能吃虾和螃蟹。 I'm allergic to seafood and can't eat shrimp or crab.
2. 这家餐厅的海鲜非常新鲜，特别好吃。 The seafood at this restaurant is very fresh and especially delicious.
3. 他们去海边旅游的时候吃了很多海鲜。 They ate a lot of seafood when they travelled to the seaside.

Usage Guide

Context: food, dining, travel

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 你喜欢吃海鲜吗？(Do you like eating seafood?)
• 青岛的海鲜很有名。(Qingdao is famous for its seafood.)

Don't Say

• 我买了一些海鲜鱼 (Don't say 海鲜鱼 — fish is already included in the category of 海鲜; just say 我买了一些海鲜 or 我买了一些鱼)

Origin & History

海 (hǎi, sea) + 鲜 (xiān, fresh) — literally 'fresh from the sea,' capturing the idea of fresh marine produce.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal