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翳 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
shade, screen; to hide, to screeng, 17 strokes, radical 羽, rank #61398, Very Hard
to shadeunknown, 17 strokes, radical 羽, rank #61398, Very Hard
cataractunknown, 17 strokes, radical 羽, rank #61398, Very Hard
(yi4) T4
  1. 1shade, screen; to hide, to screen
  2. 2to shade
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
(瞖)(yi4)

The character 翳 (yì) primarily refers to shade or a screen that blocks light. It can also mean to hide or conceal something, and is used in contexts like describing a cataract that obscures vision. It conveys a sense of covering or protecting from direct exposure.

Strokes17RadicalFrequency#61398DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese medicine, the concept of shading or blocking light is significant when discussing eye health and conditions like cataracts, which are seen as a common ailment among the elderly.

Memory Tip

Think of the character 翳 as a bird (羽) flying in the shade (阴) of a large tree, shielding itself from the harsh sun. The '翼' (wings) suggest protection, while the '阴' part hints at the idea of shade or shadow.

Meanings of 翳

(yi4)
1shade, screen; to hide, to screen
2to shade
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 翳

Simplified
Traditional
17Strokes
Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 翳

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Podcast:

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AI Study Notes for 翳

Quick Contrast

遮 (zhē) - use 翳 when emphasizing concealment or shade, while 遮 focuses more on blocking or covering something.

Memory Mnemonic

Think of the character 翳 as a bird (羽) flying in the shade (阴) of a large tree, shielding itself from the harsh sun. The '翼' (wings) suggest protection, while the '阴' part hints at the idea of shade or shadow.

Usage Notes

This character is often used in literary or formal contexts rather than everyday conversation. Be cautious with tones; using the wrong tone can change the meaning entirely. Common collocations include phrases related to vision or concealment.

HSK Study Tips

Although 翳 is not part of the HSK vocabulary lists, it can be connected to words about light and sight, such as 光 (guāng - light) and 影 (yǐng - shadow). Focus on recognizing the character's components and their meanings to enhance your vocabulary.

Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese medicine, the concept of shading or blocking light is significant when discussing eye health and conditions like cataracts, which are seen as a common ailment among the elderly.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 翳 with other similar-sounding words like 议 (yì - to discuss). An incorrect example would be using 议 when referring to shade, which should be 翳.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 翳

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Etymology of 翳

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

feather

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

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 翳?

Decomposition of 翳

IDS Structure⿱殹羽
Full Character
=
yi4
top
yu3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 翳?

Write 翳

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 翳

翳 carries 3 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 1

Complete the Sentence

云____蔽空,日色朦胧,经丛林这么一反射,又阴又湿的空气就给烤得热烘烘的.

The sun obscured by overcast, refracted from the jungle and heated the moist dark air.

Example Sentences for 翳 (1)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
云翳蔽空,日色朦胧,经丛林这么一反射,又阴又湿的空气就给烤得热烘烘的.

yún yì bì kōng, , rì sè méng, lóng , jīng cóng lín zhè mó yī, fǎn shè , yòu yīn yòu shī de kōng qì jiù gěi kǎo dé rè.

The sun obscured by overcast, refracted from the jungle and heated the moist dark air.

Cultural Notes for 翳

🏮Cultural insight

In traditional Chinese medicine, the concept of shading or blocking light is significant when discussing eye health and conditions like cataracts, which are seen as a common ailment among the elderly.

Word Family of 翳

Words Containing This Character1
to screen
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 翳 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 翳

Synonyms include 遮 (zhē - to cover) and 影 (yǐng - shadow).