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姻 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
姻
yīn
marriage connections
n, 9 strokes, radical 女, rank #48968, Very Hard
姻
yīn
relatives by marriage
n, 9 strokes, radical 女, rank #48968, Very Hard
yīn(yin1)yin T1
1marriage connections
2relatives by marriage
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March 24, 2026
姻yīn(yin1)
The character 姻 (yīn) refers to marriage connections, specifically the relationships formed through marriage, such as in-laws. It can also denote relatives by marriage rather than blood relations. In contexts discussing family or social relationships, this term highlights the significance of marital ties.
Strokes9Radical女Frequency#48968DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the concept of marriage and the resulting family ties are very significant, often involving elaborate rituals that emphasize the joining of two families, not just two individuals.
Memory tip
Imagine a wedding where two families join together. The character 姻 has the 'woman' radical 女 on the left, symbolizing a bride, and the right side sounds like 'yin', reminding you of 'in-laws' coming together at a marriage ceremony.
Meanings of 姻
yīn(yin1)
1marriage connections
2relatives by marriage
Exercise 1 of 3
By ear
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About 姻
姻Simplified
9Strokes
女Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#48968Frequency Rank
Podcast: 姻
Podcast: 姻
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AI study notes for 姻
Quick Contrast
婚 (hūn) refers specifically to the act of marriage or the wedding ceremony, while 姻 (yīn) emphasizes the relationships formed through marriage, particularly in-laws.
Usage Notes
This term is generally used in formal contexts when discussing family relationships. Be cautious not to confuse it with similar terms relating to blood relations. Common collocations include 姻亲 (yīnqīn - in-laws) and 姻缘 (yīnyuán - marital fate).
HSK Study Tips
Although 姻 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects to HSK Level 4 words like 婚 (hūn - marriage) and 家 (jiā - family), which students should focus on when studying familial terms.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 姻 with 亲 (qīn), leading to incorrect phrases like 姻亲 (yīnqīn) being mistakenly used to refer to blood relatives. Remember, 姻 specifically refers to in-laws and marital connections.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 姻
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The character 姻 (yīn) refers to marriage connections, specifically the relationships formed through marriage, such as in-laws. It can also denote relatives by marriage rather than blood relations. In contexts discussing family or social relationships, this term highlights the significance of marital ties.
When to use 姻
This term is generally used in formal contexts when discussing family relationships. Be cautious not to confuse it with similar terms relating to blood relations. Common collocations include 姻亲 (yīnqīn - in-laws) and 姻缘 (yīnyuán - marital fate).
姻 or something close to it
婚 (hūn) refers specifically to the act of marriage or the wedding ceremony, while 姻 (yīn) emphasizes the relationships formed through marriage, particularly in-laws.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 姻 with 亲 (qīn), leading to incorrect phrases like 姻亲 (yīnqīn) being mistakenly used to refer to blood relatives. Remember, 姻 specifically refers to in-laws and marital connections.
Write 姻
姻
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Grammar patterns of 姻
姻 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
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
埋头工作的时候，你是否忽视了自己的婚____？
While slogging at work, have you neglected your marriage?
Common confusions with 姻
姻vs因
yīn
Similar sound and shape but different meanings.
姻vs音
yīn
Same pronunciation but different meanings.
Exercise 1 of 1
Which one
Which one means “marriage connections”?
or
Example sentences for 姻 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
埋头工作的时候，你是否忽视了自己的婚姻？
mái tóu gōngzuò de shíhou， nǐ shìfǒu hūshì le zìjǐ de hūnyīn？
While slogging at work, have you neglected your marriage?
The implication that marital infidelity enhances a leader's credibility is preposterous.
10
他导致了他们的婚姻破裂，因此想作出补偿。
tā dǎozhì le tāmen de hūnyīn pòliè， yīncǐ xiǎng zuòchū bǔcháng。
He wanted to make amends for causing their marriage to fail.
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Cultural Notes for 姻
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
While marriage is a universal concept, the emphasis on in-laws and extended family relationships in Chinese culture contrasts with the more individualistic approach often seen in Western marriages.
Word Family of 姻
Words containing this character7
婚姻hūnyīnmatrimony
婚姻法hūnyīnfǎmarriage law
联姻liányīnrelated by marriage聯姻
姻缘yīnyuána marriage predestined by fate姻緣
姻yīnmarriage connections
姻亲yīnqīnaffinity姻親
包办婚姻bāobànhūnyīnforced marriage包辦婚姻
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 姻
What does 婚姻 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 姻
You can say '他们的姻缘很美好' (Tāmen de yīnyuán hěn měihǎo) meaning 'Their marriage connection is wonderful.'
It is more commonly used in formal discussions about family and marriage rather than in casual conversation.
亲 (qīn) refers to blood relatives, while 姻 specifically denotes connections made through marriage.
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