unknown, 13 strokes, radical 行, rank #68663, Very Hard
衙
yá
yamen 衙門|衙门
unknown, 13 strokes, radical 行, rank #68663, Very Hard
yá(Ya2) T2
1public office; official residence
2yamen 衙門|衙门
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March 24, 2026
衙yá(Ya2)
The character 衙 (yá) refers to a public office or an official residence, particularly in historical contexts relating to local government administration in China. It is often associated with yamen (衙门), which were the offices of local officials during imperial times. This term carries a sense of authority and governance.
Strokes13Radical行Frequency#68663DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese society, the yamen served as the local administrative offices where officials handled civil and legal matters, reflecting the importance of bureaucratic structure in governance.
Memory Tip
Imagine a grand building with a big 'Y' in front, representing a public office. The top of the character 衙 looks like a roof, symbolizing a place of authority, while the bottom part, resembling a structure, signifies the foundation of governance.
Meanings of 衙
yá(Ya2)
1public office; official residence
2yamen 衙門|衙门
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 衙
衙Simplified
13Strokes
行Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 衙
Podcast: 衙
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AI Study Notes for 衙
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a grand building with a big 'Y' in front, representing a public office. The top of the character 衙 looks like a roof, symbolizing a place of authority, while the bottom part, resembling a structure, signifies the foundation of governance.
Usage Notes
When using 衙, it is important to note that it is primarily used in historical contexts or formal discussions about government. Avoid using it in casual conversations. Common collocation includes 衙门 (yá mén), meaning 'government office'.
HSK Study Tips
Although 衙 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it can be useful for learners interested in historical or cultural topics. Students should focus on understanding its usage in conjunction with related terms like 衙门 and other government-related vocabulary.
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese society, the yamen served as the local administrative offices where officials handled civil and legal matters, reflecting the importance of bureaucratic structure in governance.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 衙 with similar-sounding characters like 雅 (yǎ), which means 'elegant'. A common mistake is saying '雅门' instead of '衙门' for 'government office'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 衙
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Cultural Notes for 衙
🏮Cultural insight
In traditional Chinese society, the yamen served as the local administrative offices where officials handled civil and legal matters, reflecting the importance of bureaucratic structure in governance.
Word Family of 衙
Words Containing This Character5
衙门yamen衙門
衙yáoffice
衙役bailiff of feudal yamen
衙内child of an official衙內
衙署yamen
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 衙门 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 衙
In modern Chinese, 衙 is mostly used in historical or literary contexts, and you may encounter it in discussions about traditional governance.
While 衙 refers specifically to the physical location of a public office, 官 (guān) refers to an official or government officer.
