A whale is a giant, air-breathing marine mammal.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Large marine mammal with streamlined body.
- Breathes air using lungs.
- Known for immense size in oceans.
**概述**
鲸鱼（jīng yú）是指一类生活在海洋中的大型哺乳动物，属于鲸目。它们是地球上现存体型最大的动物之一，以其庞大的身躯、流线型的身体以及在水中生活的能力而闻名。虽然它们生活在海里，但鲸鱼和人类一样，是用肺呼吸的，需要定期浮出水面换气。它们是温血动物，通过母乳喂养幼崽。
**用法模式**
“鲸鱼”这个词通常用作名词，指代这种海洋生物。它可以单独使用，也可以与其他词语组合，构成更具体的表达。例如，“蓝鲸”特指蓝鲸，“抹香鲸”特指抹香鲸。
**常见语境**
“鲸鱼”一词经常出现在关于海洋生物、环境保护、地理（海洋）以及自然纪录片的讨论中。在日常对话中，人们可能会谈论在海洋馆看到的鲸鱼，或者在新闻中听到的关于鲸鱼迁徙或保护的报道。它也可能出现在文学作品或儿童故事中，作为一种令人敬畏的海洋生物形象。
**相似词语比较**
- 鲸鱼 (jīng yú) vs 鱼 (yú)：鱼是生活在水中的变温脊椎动物，用鳃呼吸，通常有鳍和鳞。而鲸鱼是哺乳动物，用肺呼吸，是温血动物，并且胎生。鲸鱼虽然名字里有“鱼”，但它属于哺乳动物。
- 鲸鱼 (jīng yú) vs 海豚 (hǎi tún)：海豚也是鲸目哺乳动物，但通常体型比鲸鱼小，并且以其高智商和玩耍行为而闻名。严格来说，海豚也属于鲸类，但人们习惯上将体型巨大的称为鲸鱼，体型较小的称为海豚。
Examples
我们在海洋馆看到了巨大的蓝鲸。
everydayWe saw a giant blue whale at the aquarium.
鲸鱼是海洋生态系统中重要的组成部分。
academicWhales are an important part of the marine ecosystem.
那头搁浅的鲸鱼得到了很多人的帮助。
newsMany people helped the stranded whale.
孩子们喜欢听关于会说话的鲸鱼的童话故事。
informalChildren love listening to fairy tales about talking whales.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
鲸鱼座
Constellation Cetus
鲸吞
To swallow whole; to annex
Often Confused With
While both live in water, 'yú' (fish) are aquatic vertebrates with gills, typically cold-blooded. 'Jīng yú' (whale) are marine mammals that breathe air with lungs and are warm-blooded.
Haitun (dolphins) are also marine mammals of the order Cetacea, like whales. However, 'haitun' generally refers to smaller species, while 'jīng yú' typically denotes the larger ones. Scientifically, dolphins are a type of toothed whale.
Grammar Patterns
How to Use It
Usage Notes
The word '鲸鱼' (jīng yú) is a common noun used to refer to whales. It is generally neutral in register and suitable for most contexts, from everyday conversation to academic writing about marine biology.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is to confuse whales with fish because they live in the ocean and the word '鱼' (yú) is part of '鲸鱼' (jīng yú). Remember that whales are mammals, not fish.
Tips
Remember: Whales Breathe Air
Unlike fish, whales are mammals and need to surface to breathe air through their blowholes.
Conservation Concerns
Many whale species face threats from pollution, hunting, and habitat loss. It's important to support conservation efforts.
Whales in Culture
Whales hold significant cultural importance in many coastal societies, often appearing in mythology, art, and literature.
Word Origin
The word '鲸鱼' (jīng yú) combines '鲸' (jīng), which refers to whales, and '鱼' (yú), meaning fish. This naming reflects the historical observation of these large creatures living in the water, even though they are mammals.
Cultural Context
In many cultures, whales are seen as majestic and powerful creatures of the sea. They feature in folklore, indigenous art, and modern conservation movements, symbolizing the vastness and mystery of the ocean.
Memory Tip
Imagine a giant 'king' (发音类似 'jīng') in the ocean, ruling the waters – that's your 'jīng yú' (whale)!
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questions不是。尽管名字里有“鱼”，但鲸鱼是哺乳动物，不是鱼类。它们用肺呼吸，是温血动物，并且会用母乳喂养幼崽。
鲸鱼生活在世界各地的海洋里。不同种类的鲸鱼可能偏好特定的水域，有的生活在寒冷的水域，有的则生活在温暖的热带海域。
鲸鱼的食性因种类而异。有些鲸鱼（如蓝鲸）主要以磷虾等小型甲壳类动物为食，而另一些鲸鱼（如虎鲸）则会捕食鱼类、海豹甚至其他鲸鱼。
目前已知最大的动物是蓝鲸（Balaenoptera musculus），它是所有鲸鱼中体型最大的，也是地球上有史以来存在过的最大的动物。
Test Yourself
在广阔的海洋里，生活着许多巨大的______。
根据句子描述的“巨大的海洋生物”，并且结合常识，鲸鱼是最符合的答案。
以下哪个选项描述了鲸鱼的特征？
鲸鱼是哺乳动物，虽然生活在海里，但它们用肺呼吸，是温血动物，并且用母乳喂养幼崽。
词语：海洋，巨大，鲸鱼，生活，在
这个句子结构完整，符合中文语法，准确地表达了鲸鱼的生活环境。
Score: /3
Summary
A whale is a giant, air-breathing marine mammal.
- Large marine mammal with streamlined body.
- Breathes air using lungs.
- Known for immense size in oceans.
Remember: Whales Breathe Air
Unlike fish, whales are mammals and need to surface to breathe air through their blowholes.
Conservation Concerns
Many whale species face threats from pollution, hunting, and habitat loss. It's important to support conservation efforts.
Whales in Culture
Whales hold significant cultural importance in many coastal societies, often appearing in mythology, art, and literature.
Examples
4 of 4我们在海洋馆看到了巨大的蓝鲸。
We saw a giant blue whale at the aquarium.
鲸鱼是海洋生态系统中重要的组成部分。
Whales are an important part of the marine ecosystem.
那头搁浅的鲸鱼得到了很多人的帮助。
Many people helped the stranded whale.
孩子们喜欢听关于会说话的鲸鱼的童话故事。
Children love listening to fairy tales about talking whales.
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
Related Vocabulary
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种类
A1Species; kind; type of animal.
兔子
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蚂蚁
A1Ant; a small insect, typically living in organized colonies.
蜜蜂
A1Bee; a stinging winged insect that produces honey and wax.
蝴蝶
A1Butterfly; an insect with large, often brightly colored wings.
苍蝇
A1Fly (insect); a common two-winged insect, often considered a pest.
青蛙
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螃蟹
A1Crab; a marine crustacean with a broad carapace and two large pincers.
跳过
A1To jump over; clear (an obstacle) by jumping.
失去
A1To lose (a pet); no longer have.
