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March 24, 2026
伊yī(Yi1)
The character 伊 (yī) is primarily used as a pronoun meaning 'he' or 'she', often employed in literary or formal contexts. It can also refer to 'this' or 'that', and serves as an abbreviation in transliterations for names of countries like Iraq (伊拉克) and Iran (伊朗). Its usage may convey a certain level of formality or stylistic nuance in conversation.
Strokes6Radical亻Frequency#2294DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In classical Chinese literature, 伊 frequently appears in poetry and prose, often reflecting a more refined or elevated style of communication. Its presence in modern transliterations also highlights the importance of historical and cultural ties between China and countries like Iraq and Iran.
Memory Tip
Imagine 伊 (yī) as a stylized figure holding a flag representing a person, symbolizing the pronoun 'he' or 'she'. The shape of the character can remind you of a person standing proudly, emphasizing its role in referring to individuals.
Meanings of 伊
yī(Yi1)
1he she; this, that; used in transliterations
2abbr. for 伊拉克[Yi1 la1 ke4], Iraq
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 伊
伊Simplified
6Strokes
亻Radical
地名míngcíplace name (p.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 伊
Podcast: 伊
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AI Study Notes for 伊
Quick Contrast
他 (tā, he) — use 伊 (yī) for formal or literary contexts, while 他 (tā) is more common in everyday speech.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 伊 with the more common pronouns like 他 (tā, he) and 她 (tā, she), which are used more frequently in everyday speech. 伊 carries a more formal tone and is less common in casual conversation. Be cautious with pronunciation; the first tone (yī) is crucial for clarity.
HSK Study Tips
Although 伊 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects to HSK Level 1 pronouns like 他 and 她. Students should focus on understanding its formal usage and how it contrasts with more commonly used pronouns in conversation.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes mistakenly use 伊 in casual conversation instead of 他 or 她, thinking it is interchangeable. For example, saying '伊喜欢这个' instead of '他喜欢这个' (He likes this) is incorrect in informal contexts.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 伊
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Phonosemantic compound. 亻 represents the meaning and 尹 represents the sound.
1The meaning half亻 carries the sense.
2The sound half尹 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayperson
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 伊? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 伊?
Decomposition of 伊
IDS Structure⿰亻尹
伊Full Character
=
亻ren2
left
尹Yin3
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 伊?
How to say surname Yi in Chinese
“surname Yi” in Chinese is伊yī
The character 伊 (yī) is primarily used as a pronoun meaning 'he' or 'she', often employed in literary or formal contexts. It can also refer to 'this' or 'that', and serves as an abbreviation in transliterations for names of countries like Iraq (伊拉克) and Iran (伊朗). Its usage may convey a certain level of formality or stylistic nuance in conversation.
When to use 伊
Learners often confuse 伊 with the more common pronouns like 他 (tā, he) and 她 (tā, she), which are used more frequently in everyday speech. 伊 carries a more formal tone and is less common in casual conversation. Be cautious with pronunciation; the first tone (yī) is crucial for clarity.
伊 or something close to it
他 (tā, he) — use 伊 (yī) for formal or literary contexts, while 他 (tā) is more common in everyday speech.
What learners get wrong
Learners sometimes mistakenly use 伊 in casual conversation instead of 他 or 她, thinking it is interchangeable. For example, saying '伊喜欢这个' instead of '他喜欢这个' (He likes this) is incorrect in informal contexts.
Write 伊
伊
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Practice writing 伊 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 伊
伊 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
