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羿 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
羿yìsurname Yiunknown, 9 strokes, radical 羽
羿yìa legendary archernr, 9 strokes, radical 羽
羿yìname of legendary archerunknown, 9 strokes, radical 羽
羿yìalso written 后羿[Hou4 Yi4]unknown, 9 strokes, radical 羽
yì(Yi4) T4
  1. 1surname Yi
  2. 2a legendary archer
Also a Chinese surname, Yi — see the Surname Dictionary
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

羿yì(Yi4)

The character 羿 (yì) refers to a legendary archer in Chinese mythology, known for shooting down nine suns to save the earth. It is also a common surname in China. This character is often associated with tales of heroism and skill in archery, particularly in the context of Chinese folklore.

Strokes9Radical羽
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, 羿 is often celebrated as a symbol of bravery and sacrifice, particularly in the story of him saving humanity by eliminating excessive suns, which reflects the value placed on heroism and selflessness in Chinese folklore.

Memory Tip

Imagine a great archer, 'Yi', standing tall with a bow, shooting arrows towards the sky. The character 羿 combines the radical for 'sheep' (羊), representing peace, with '弓' (gōng), the bow, symbolizing skill. Picture 'Yi' using his bow to protect the sheep from the scorching sun.

Meanings of 羿

yì(Yi4)
1a legendary archer
2name of legendary archer
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 羿

羿Simplified
9Strokes
羽Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 羿

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Podcast: 羿

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 羿

Usage Notes

While 'Yi' is a surname, it is important to use it appropriately in formal contexts, especially when addressing someone with that name. A common mistake is to confuse it with other characters that sound similar but have different meanings. Make sure to pronounce it with the correct tone: yì (fourth tone).

HSK Study Tips

Although 羿 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects to stories and characters commonly discussed at HSK levels 3-5, where learners might encounter more folklore. Focus on understanding its historical context and pronunciation to enhance your language skills.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 羿 with similar-sounding characters, like 义 (yì), which means righteousness. Another mistake is mispronouncing it as 'yi' without the correct tone, which can change the meaning entirely.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 羿

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Etymology of 羿

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

A man drawing 廾 an arrow 羽

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 羿

  1. 1The giveawayA man drawing 廾 an arrow 羽
  2. 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.

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

Want the full history of 羿? 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 羿?

Decomposition of 羿

IDS Structure⿱羽廾
羿Full Character
=
羽yu3
top
廾gong3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 羿?

How to say surname Yi in Chinese

“surname Yi” in Chinese is羿yì

The character 羿 (yì) refers to a legendary archer in Chinese mythology, known for shooting down nine suns to save the earth. It is also a common surname in China. This character is often associated with tales of heroism and skill in archery, particularly in the context of Chinese folklore.

When to use 羿

While 'Yi' is a surname, it is important to use it appropriately in formal contexts, especially when addressing someone with that name. A common mistake is to confuse it with other characters that sound similar but have different meanings. Make sure to pronounce it with the correct tone: yì (fourth tone).

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 羿 with similar-sounding characters, like 义 (yì), which means righteousness. Another mistake is mispronouncing it as 'yi' without the correct tone, which can change the meaning entirely.

Write 羿

羿

Practice writing 羿 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 羿

Words Containing This Character2
后羿Houyi, mythological Chinese archer whose wife was Chang'e
羿yìsurname Yi
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 后羿 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 羿

It refers to a legendary archer known for shooting down nine suns in Chinese mythology.

Jason Recommends

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