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撄 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
撄yīngto offend, to oppose, to run counter tog, 14 strokes, radical 扌
撄yīngopposeunknown, 14 strokes, radical 扌
撄yīngto attackunknown, 14 strokes, radical 扌
yīng(ying1) T1
  1. 1to offend, to oppose, to run counter to
  2. 2oppose
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

撄(攖)yīng(ying1)

The character 撄 (yīng) means to offend or oppose, often in a context where one action runs counter to another. It can also imply a sense of attack or confrontation, typically in a disagreement or dispute. This word is less commonly used in day-to-day conversation but may appear in more formal or literary contexts.

Strokes14Radical扌
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, the concept of 'saving face' is paramount, and 撄 can relate to actions that cause offense or challenge someone's honor. This makes the understanding of this term important in social interactions.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person holding a spear (the radical 扌, representing actions) aiming it at a wall (the character's form), signifying an attack or opposition. The sound 'yīng' can be remembered by visualizing someone yelling 'Ying!' as they confront someone else.

Meanings of 撄

yīng(ying1)
1to offend, to oppose, to run counter to
2oppose
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 撄

撄Simplified
攖Traditional
14Strokes
扌Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 撄

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Podcast: 撄

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AI Study Notes for 撄

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include confusing 撄 with similar characters like 迎 (yíng, to welcome), which has a completely different meaning. This word is typically used in more formal situations and should be avoided in casual conversation. Be mindful of the tone; using the wrong tone can change the meaning entirely.

HSK Study Tips

Although 撄 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects to concepts like 反对 (fǎnduì, to oppose) and 攻击 (gōngjī, to attack), which can be beneficial for learners at HSK Level 4 and above. Focus on understanding its nuances in context and how it contrasts with other oppositional terms.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 撄 with 迎 (yíng), leading to incorrect usage in contexts discussing welcome or greeting. It’s important to remember that 撄 implies offense or opposition, not friendliness.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 撄

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Etymology of 撄

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

hand

Semantic (meaning)扌
+
Phonetic (sound)婴
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 撄

  1. 1The meaning half扌 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half婴 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayhand
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 撄? 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 撄?

Decomposition of 撄

IDS Structure⿰扌婴
撄Full Character
=
扌shou3
left
婴ying1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 撄?

How to say to offend, to oppose, to run counter to in Chinese

“to offend, to oppose, to run counter to” in Chinese is撄yīng

The character 撄 (yīng) means to offend or oppose, often in a context where one action runs counter to another. It can also imply a sense of attack or confrontation, typically in a disagreement or dispute. This word is less commonly used in day-to-day conversation but may appear in more formal or literary contexts.

When to use 撄

Common mistakes include confusing 撄 with similar characters like 迎 (yíng, to welcome), which has a completely different meaning. This word is typically used in more formal situations and should be avoided in casual conversation. Be mindful of the tone; using the wrong tone can change the meaning entirely.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 撄 with 迎 (yíng), leading to incorrect usage in contexts discussing welcome or greeting. It’s important to remember that 撄 implies offense or opposition, not friendliness.

Write 撄

撄

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 撄

Words Containing This Character1
撄yīngoppose攖
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 撄 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 撄

No, 撄 is more formal and is typically found in literary texts or in discussions about conflict.

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