鲨鱼

• Pinyin: shā yú
• Hanzi breakdown: 鲨 = 鱼 (fish) + 沙 (sand/phonetic shā) = the rough-skinned fish = shark, named for its abrasive skin texture; 鱼 = fish

Meaning

Shark; a large cartilaginous predatory fish characterised by its powerful jaws, acute senses, and streamlined body.

Used in marine biology, environmental science, and everyday speech. Metaphorically, 商界鲨鱼 or 金融鲨鱼 means a ruthless, predatory businessperson. 鲨鱼皮 (sharkskin) refers to a type of high-performance swimsuit fabric that mimics shark skin texture. Shark fin soup (鱼翅汤) is a controversial delicacy in Chinese cuisine.

Examples

1. 研究人员在对海洋生态系统的长期监测中发现，鲨鱼种群数量的急剧下降对整个食物链结构造成了不可忽视的连锁影响。 Through long-term monitoring of marine ecosystems, researchers have found that the sharp decline in shark populations has a chain reaction on the entire food-web structure that can’t be ignored.
2. 这部水下纪录片通过高清摄影技术近距离记录了大白鲨在南非海域的捕猎行为，真实呈现了这种顶级掠食者的生命力量。 Using high-definition filming, this underwater documentary closely captures great white sharks hunting in South African waters, vividly showcasing the vitality of these apex predators.
3. 环保组织持续开展反对捕猎鲨鱼、禁止鱼翅消费的公益宣传活动，呼吁公众以实际行动参与海洋生物多样性的保护。 Environmental groups continue public campaigns against shark hunting and the consumption of shark fin, calling on the public to take real action to protect marine biodiversity.

Usage Guide

Context: marine biology, environment, food culture, metaphor

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 科学家发现鲨鱼体内存在一种特殊的免疫蛋白，可能对抗癌药物的研发具有重要的参考价值，这一发现引发了生物医学领域的广泛关注。(Scientists discovered a special immune protein in sharks that may have significant reference value for the development of anti-cancer drugs — a finding that has attracted widespread attention in the field of biomedicine.)
• 这位被业界称为金融鲨鱼的投资人以其对市场趋势的敏锐判断和果断的并购策略，在短短十年内将一家小型基金公司打造成行业巨擘。(This investor, known in the industry as a financial shark, built a small fund company into an industry giant within just ten years through his sharp judgement of market trends and decisive acquisition strategy.)

Don't Say

• 他游泳像鲨鱼一般慢 — 鲨鱼 as a metaphor implies speed and predatory power; saying someone swims as slowly as a shark is culturally contradictory; use 乌龟 (tortoise) for slow swimming comparisons

Origin & History

鲨 = 鱼 (fish) + 沙 (sand, phonetic shā) = the sand-skinned fish = shark, named for its rough, sandpaper-like skin; 鱼 = fish

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal