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揖 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
揖yīto bow, to salute; to defer, to yieldvg, 12 strokes, radical 扌, rank #65936, Very Hard
揖yīto greet by raising clasped handsunknown, 12 strokes, radical 扌, rank #65936, Very Hard
yī(yi1)yi T1
  1. 1to bow, to salute; to defer, to yield
  2. 2to greet by raising clasped hands
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March 24, 2026

揖yī(yi1)

The character 揖 (yī) primarily means to bow or salute, often in a formal context. It conveys respect and deference, typically involving a gesture of raising clasped hands. This gesture is common in traditional greetings and signifies politeness in social interactions.

Strokes12Radical扌Frequency#65936DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, bowing as a form of greeting, especially with clasped hands, is deeply rooted in traditions reflecting respect and humility. This gesture is particularly emphasized during formal events and ceremonies, such as weddings and ancestral rites.

Memory tip

Imagine a person yielding to another by bowing deeply, with their hands clasped together in front of them. The shape of the character 揖 resembles a person bending forward with hands raised, vividly linking it to the act of saluting.

Meanings of 揖

yī(yi1)
1to bow, to salute; to defer, to yield
2to greet by raising clasped hands
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 揖

揖Simplified
12Strokes
扌Radical
动语素dòngcíverb root (v.root)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 揖

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Podcast: 揖

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AI study notes for 揖

Usage Notes

When using 揖, it's important to note the level of formality required in different contexts. It is often used in traditional ceremonies and may sound overly formal in casual conversations. Be careful with the tone; mispronouncing this word can lead to confusion.

HSK Study Tips

Although not part of the HSK curriculum, 揖 connects well with characters related to greetings and respect, such as 敬 (jìng, to respect) and 礼 (lǐ, etiquette). Students should focus on the gesture associated with this character to enhance their understanding of cultural nuances in communication.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 揖 with the more casual greeting 你好 (nǐ hǎo). For instance, saying 揖 in a casual setting can sound overly stiff; instead, use 你好 when greeting friends.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 揖

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Etymology of 揖

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory hint

hand

Semantic (meaning)扌
+
Phonetic (sound)咠
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

揖 = 扌 + 咠. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 揖

IDS Structure⿰扌咠
揖Full character
=
扌shou3
left
咠qi4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 揖?

How to say to bow, to salute; to defer, to yield in Chinese

“to bow, to salute; to defer, to yield” in Chinese is揖yī

The character 揖 (yī) primarily means to bow or salute, often in a formal context. It conveys respect and deference, typically involving a gesture of raising clasped hands. This gesture is common in traditional greetings and signifies politeness in social interactions.

When to use 揖

When using 揖, it's important to note the level of formality required in different contexts. It is often used in traditional ceremonies and may sound overly formal in casual conversations. Be careful with the tone; mispronouncing this word can lead to confusion.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 揖 with the more casual greeting 你好 (nǐ hǎo). For instance, saying 揖 in a casual setting can sound overly stiff; instead, use 你好 when greeting friends.

Write 揖

揖

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

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Word Family of 揖

Words containing this character6
揖yīto greet by raising clasped hands
作揖to bow with hands held in front
长揖to clasp hands in greeting長揖
打躬作揖to beg humbly
开门揖盗leaving the door open invites the thief (idiom); to invite disaster by giving evildoers a free hand開門揖盜
打拱作揖to beg humbly
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 揖

What does 作揖 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 揖

Use 揖 in formal situations or ceremonies where respect is paramount, rather than in casual greetings.

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