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殹 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
殹yìan echox, 11 strokes, radical 殳
殹yì(archaic) (meaning unclear)unknown, 11 strokes, radical 殳
殹yì(final particle)unknown, 11 strokes, radical 殳
yì(yi4) T4
  1. 1an echo
  2. 2(archaic) (meaning unclear)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

殹yì(yi4)

The character 殹 (yì) refers to an echo, particularly in a poetic or archaic context. It is not commonly used in modern Mandarin, and its meaning may also be linked to an unclear or ambiguous final particle in classical texts. Generally, it embodies the idea of sound reverberation or reflection.

Strokes11Radical殳
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese poetry, the use of echoes often symbolizes longing or nostalgia, reflecting the emotional weight of distant voices or memories. Understanding this character can enhance appreciation for classical texts where such themes are prevalent.

Memory Tip

Imagine a deep valley where your voice travels and echoes back to you, creating a beautiful sound. The character 殹 has a 'death' radical (殳) combined with a 'sounding' component (音), symbolizing how sounds can linger in the air, much like the ghostly echoes in the valley.

Meanings of 殹

yì(yi4)
1an echo
2(archaic) (meaning unclear)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 殹

殹Simplified
11Strokes
殳Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 殹

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Podcast: 殹

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AI Study Notes for 殹

Usage Notes

Since 殹 is an archaic term, it is rarely used in modern conversation, which can lead to confusion if used incorrectly. Learners should be cautious about using it in formal contexts, as it may not be recognized. Instead, focus on common synonyms like 回声 (huí shēng) for 'echo'.

HSK Study Tips

Though 殹 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, recognizing its poetic nature can deepen your understanding of classical Chinese literature. Students should focus on familiarizing themselves with more commonly used terms for sound and echo, especially in HSK levels 2 and 3.

Common Mistakes

Learners might confuse 殹 with more commonly used words for echo, leading to awkward phrasing. For instance, saying '我听见殹' instead of '我听见回声' is incorrect and can cause confusion.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 殹

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Etymology of 殹

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

Original meaning unclear.

Memory Hint

tool

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 殹

Original meaning unclear.

  1. 1The meaning half殳 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half医 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaytool
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 殹? 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 殹?

Decomposition of 殹

IDS Structure⿰医殳
殹Full Character
=
医yi1
left
殳Shu1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 殹?

How to say an echo in Chinese

“an echo” in Chinese is殹yì

The character 殹 (yì) refers to an echo, particularly in a poetic or archaic context. It is not commonly used in modern Mandarin, and its meaning may also be linked to an unclear or ambiguous final particle in classical texts. Generally, it embodies the idea of sound reverberation or reflection.

When to use 殹

Since 殹 is an archaic term, it is rarely used in modern conversation, which can lead to confusion if used incorrectly. Learners should be cautious about using it in formal contexts, as it may not be recognized. Instead, focus on common synonyms like 回声 (huí shēng) for 'echo'.

What learners get wrong

Learners might confuse 殹 with more commonly used words for echo, leading to awkward phrasing. For instance, saying '我听见殹' instead of '我听见回声' is incorrect and can cause confusion.

Write 殹

殹

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Frequently Asked Questions about 殹

No, 殹 is considered archaic and is rarely used in contemporary language.

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