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厓 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
precipice; river bank, shore; surnamezg, 8 strokes, radical 厂, Very Hard
old form of 崖 (cliff) and 涯 (bank)unknown, 8 strokes, radical 厂, Very Hard
(ya2) T2
  1. 1precipice; river bank, shore; surname
  2. 2old form of 崖 (cliff) and 涯 (bank)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
(ya2)

The character 厓 (yá) refers to a precipice or the edge of a river bank, often conveying a sense of steepness or danger. It can also denote a surname and is an older form of the characters 崖 (cliff) and 涯 (bank). In literature, it may be used to evoke imagery of dramatic landscapes or perilous situations.

Strokes8RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, cliffs and riverbanks hold significant meanings in poetry and art, often symbolizing challenges or the beauty of nature. The imagery associated with 厓 can evoke feelings of solitude and reflection in traditional Chinese literature.

Memory Tip

Imagine standing on the edge of a steep cliff (the image of 厓) while looking down at a rushing river below. The sharp edge of the cliff is like the sharp sound of 'yá', which helps you remember both the sound and the meaning associated with danger and height.

Meanings of 厓

(ya2)
1precipice; river bank, shore; surname
2old form of 崖 (cliff) and 涯 (bank)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 厓

Simplified
8Strokes
Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 厓

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Podcast:

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AI Study Notes for 厓

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine standing on the edge of a steep cliff (the image of 厓) while looking down at a rushing river below. The sharp edge of the cliff is like the sharp sound of 'yá', which helps you remember both the sound and the meaning associated with danger and height.

Usage Notes

This character is rarely used in everyday conversation and is more likely to appear in literary contexts. Learners should be cautious not to confuse 厓 with its modern equivalents 崖 and 涯. Additionally, the pronunciation 'yá' should be practiced to avoid miscommunication.

HSK Study Tips

Although 厓 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, understanding it can deepen comprehension of related characters like 崖 and 涯. Students should focus on recognizing these characters in context and their usage in literature.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, cliffs and riverbanks hold significant meanings in poetry and art, often symbolizing challenges or the beauty of nature. The imagery associated with 厓 can evoke feelings of solitude and reflection in traditional Chinese literature.

Common Mistakes

Learners might mistakenly use 厓 in modern contexts where 崖 is more appropriate. For example, saying '我站在厓上' (I am standing on the cliff) is incorrect; it should be '我站在崖上'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 厓

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Etymology of 厓

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

A cliff 厂 formed of earth 土

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 厓?

Decomposition of 厓

IDS Structure⿸厂⿱土土
Full Character
=
chang3
enclosing
Tu3
top
Tu3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 厓?

Write 厓

Practice writing stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Cultural Notes for 厓

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, cliffs and riverbanks hold significant meanings in poetry and art, often symbolizing challenges or the beauty of nature. The imagery associated with 厓 can evoke feelings of solitude and reflection in traditional Chinese literature.

Word Family of 厓

Words Containing This Character1
old form of 崖 (cliff) and 涯 (bank)
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 厓 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 厓

No, 厓 is more often found in literary texts rather than in everyday speech.