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縊 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
縊yìto hang; to stranglezg, 16 strokes, radical 糹
yì(yi4) T4
  1. 1to hang; to strangle
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

縊yì(yi4)

The character 縊 (yì) means 'to hang' or 'to strangle.' It is often used in contexts that involve choking or suspending, typically with a negative connotation. This character can appear in discussions related to death, punishment, or extreme situations.

Strokes16Radical糹
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese literature, the concept of hanging often appears as a method of execution or punishment, reflecting historical attitudes towards crime and justice. This character can evoke historical narratives of suffering and morality.

Memory Tip

Imagine a string (the radical 糸) hanging down, representing the act of hanging or strangling. Picture someone trying to tie a knot in that string, causing a choking effect. The sound 'yì' can remind you of a gasp, as if someone is struggling to breathe.

Meanings of 縊

yì(yi4)
1to hang; to strangle
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 縊

縊Simplified
16Strokes
糹Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 縊

JasonAmy

Podcast: 縊

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 縊

Usage Notes

Be cautious when using 縊, as it carries a heavy and somber meaning. It is not commonly used in everyday conversation, making it more suitable for formal or literary contexts. Make sure to use the correct tone (fourth tone) to avoid misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

Although 縊 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it can be connected to other characters involving death or punishment, which may appear in advanced studies. Focus on recognizing its components and understanding its context in literature or historical texts.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 縊 with similar characters, such as 懿 (yì), which means 'noble' or 'excellent.' A common mistake is misusing the tone, pronouncing it as 'yi' instead of 'yì.' Correct usage requires the fourth tone.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 縊

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Etymology of 縊

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

thread

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 縊

  1. 1The meaning half糹 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half益 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaythread
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 縊? 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 縊?

Decomposition of 縊

IDS Structure⿰糹益
縊Full Character
=
糹si1
left
益Yi4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 縊?

How to say to hang; to strangle in Chinese

“to hang; to strangle” in Chinese is縊yì

The character 縊 (yì) means 'to hang' or 'to strangle.' It is often used in contexts that involve choking or suspending, typically with a negative connotation. This character can appear in discussions related to death, punishment, or extreme situations.

When to use 縊

Be cautious when using 縊, as it carries a heavy and somber meaning. It is not commonly used in everyday conversation, making it more suitable for formal or literary contexts. Make sure to use the correct tone (fourth tone) to avoid misunderstandings.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 縊 with similar characters, such as 懿 (yì), which means 'noble' or 'excellent.' A common mistake is misusing the tone, pronouncing it as 'yi' instead of 'yì.' Correct usage requires the fourth tone.

Write 縊

縊

Practice writing 縊 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 縊

Words Containing This Character3
缢yìto hang縊
自缢to hang oneself自縊
缢死to hang oneself縊死
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 缢 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 縊

It is pronounced as 'yì' with a fourth tone.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 縊?

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