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March 24, 2026
姨yí(yi2)
The character 姨 (yí) refers specifically to a mother's sister, commonly known as 'aunt.' This term is often used in familial contexts and can also be extended to refer to female friends of the family or older female acquaintances, depending on the closeness of the relationship.
Strokes9Radical女Frequency#13579DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, familial relationships are highly valued, and the term 姨 represents not just a family member, but also the respect and affection typically associated with aunts in family gatherings and celebrations.
Memory Tip
Imagine the character 姨 as a woman (女) sitting next to her family (the character's left side resembles a person). Picture her sharing stories of her youth, emphasizing the bond she has with her nieces and nephews. The pronunciation 'yí' sounds like 'eey,' which can remind you of a cheerful greeting you might hear when meeting a beloved aunt.
Meanings of 姨
yí(yi2)
1mother's sister
2aunt
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 姨
姨Simplified
9Strokes
女Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#13579Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 姨
Podcast: 姨
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AI Study Notes for 姨
Quick Contrast
姨 (yí) vs 阿姨 (āyí) — use 姨 (yí) for a biological aunt, while 阿姨 (āyí) is often used for a more general term for 'aunt' or a respectful term for an older woman.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine the character 姨 as a woman (女) sitting next to her family (the character's left side resembles a person). Picture her sharing stories of her youth, emphasizing the bond she has with her nieces and nephews. The pronunciation 'yí' sounds like 'eey,' which can remind you of a cheerful greeting you might hear when meeting a beloved aunt.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 姨 (yí) with other familial terms like 叔 (shū, uncle) or 姐 (jiě, older sister), as these refer to different relationships. This term is generally informal, but can also be used in respectful contexts. Common collocations include phrases like '姨妈' (yímā, maternal aunt).
HSK Study Tips
While 姨 is not part of the standard HSK vocabulary, it connects to familial terms at HSK 1 or 2, such as 妈 (mā, mother) and 爸 (bà, father). Students should focus on using familial terms in context to strengthen their understanding of family relationships in Mandarin.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, familial relationships are highly valued, and the term 姨 represents not just a family member, but also the respect and affection typically associated with aunts in family gatherings and celebrations.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 姨 (yí) with similar terms, like 姐 (jiě) for older sister, leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying '我有一个姨' (wǒ yǒu yīgè jiě) instead of '我有一个姨' (wǒ yǒu yīgè yí) can confuse listeners.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 姨
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Grammar Patterns of 姨
姨 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 2 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
她是街坊上所有孩子的好阿____.
She is a good aunt to all the children in the neighbourhood.
Common Confusions with 姨
姨vs妒
dù
Similar sound but different meaning.
Exercise 1 of 1
Spot the Difference
Which character means "mother's sister"?
or
Example Sentences for 姨 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
她是街坊上所有孩子的好阿姨.
tā shì jiē fāng shàng suǒ yǒu hái zǐ de hǎo ā yí.
She is a good aunt to all the children in the neighbourhood.
2
阿姨和叔叔建议她去商店工作。
ā yí hé shū shū jiàn yì tā qù shāng diàn gōng zuò。
Auntie and Uncle suggested she serve in the shop.
3
令人疑惑的是，她看上去就像一位面熟的邻家阿姨或是祖母。
líng rén yí huò de shì， ， tā kàn shàng qù jiù xiàng yī wèi miàn shú de lín jiā ā yí huò shì zǔ。
She looks disconcertingly like a familiar aunt or grandmother.
4
希尔达姨妈和杰克姨父对他们宠爱有加。
xī ěr dá yí mā hé jié kè yí fù duì tā mén chǒng ài yǒu jiā。
Auntie Hilda and Uncle Jack couldn't fuss over them enough.
5
玛丽阿姨糊里糊涂的,她总是忘东忘西.
mǎ lì ā yí hū lǐ hū tú de, , tā zǒng shì wàng dōng wàng.
Aunt Mary is such a scatterbrain that she always forgets something.
6
“ 阿姨叫我不要跑, ” 他解释道, “ 因为我有气喘病. ”
“ “ ā yí jiào wǒ bù yào,” pǎo , ” tā jiě,“ shì dào , “ yīn wéi wǒ yǒu.”
" Auntie told me not to run, " he explained, " on account of my asthma. ”
Mistress Chen hastened in from the next room to drum her fists lightly on his back.
9
埃米莉姨妈织补旧袜子。
āi mǐ lì yí mā zhī bǔ jiù wà zǐ。
Aunt Emilie darned old socks.
10
“ 姨妈,希德拿糖吃, 您怎么不打他呀. ”
“ “ yí, mā , xī dé ná, táng chī , nín zěn mó bù.”
" Aunt, you don't whack Sid when he takes it. "
Cultural Notes for 姨
💡Did you know?
'姨' is often used in Chinese culture to refer to not just a biological aunt but also close family friends or older women in a community, reflecting the importance of family and social ties in Chinese society.
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, familial relationships are highly valued, and the term 姨 represents not just a family member, but also the respect and affection typically associated with aunts in family gatherings and celebrations.
Word Family of 姨
Words Containing This Character17
阿姨āyímaternal aunt
姨妈maternal aunt姨媽
姨yíaunt
小姨sister-in-law
大姨sister-in-law
姨父uncle
小姨子sister-in-law
姨夫mother's sister's husband
姨丈mother's sister's husband
姨母mother's sister
姨太太concubine
婆姨(dialect) wife
大姨子sister-in-law
姨奶奶great aunt
姨妹sister-in-law
姨姐sister-in-law
姨姥姥great-aunt
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 阿姨 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 姨
Use 姨 (yí) specifically when referring to your mother's sister. In contrast, other terms may refer to different relatives, like 父亲 (fùqīn) for father or 叔叔 (shūshu) for uncle. Understanding these distinctions helps in accurately describing family relationships.
姨 (yí) and 阿姨 (āyí) both refer to 'aunt,' but 阿姨 is a more informal term often used to address not just a mother's sister but also older women in a friendly way. The difference lies mainly in the context and formality of address.
You can use 姨 (yí) in a sentence like '我姨来我家了' (Wǒ yí lái wǒ jiā le), which means 'My aunt came to my house.' It's often used when talking about family visits or discussing family matters.
姨 (yí) means 'aunt' in Chinese, specifically referring to your mother's sister. In conversations, this term is commonly used to address or refer to maternal aunts. It's important in family contexts and can express familial relationships.
No, 姨 specifically refers to a mother's sister. For a father's sister, the term is 舅妈 (jiùmā).
While it primarily means 'aunt,' it can be used informally for older female friends, but context matters.
