Meanings of 貽
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About 貽
Podcast: 貽
Podcast: 貽
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AI Study Notes for 貽
While 貽 is a formal term, beginners may confuse it with similar-sounding words like 以 (yǐ), which means 'to use.' It's often used in literary contexts, so it's less common in everyday conversation. Watch out for the correct tone; mispronouncing it may change its meaning.
Though 貽 is not included in the HSK vocabulary, understanding it can enhance your comprehension of literary texts. Focus on its usage in historical or formal contexts, and try to connect it with other verbs of giving (like 送 sòng) you might encounter at this level.
Learners often confuse 貽 with 赠 (zèng), which also means 'to give' but is more commonly used in modern contexts. For example, saying '我貽了一本书给他' (I bequeathed a book to him) is awkward; use '我送了一本书给他' instead.
Pronunciation of 貽
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Etymology of 貽
Phonosemantic compound. 贝 represents the meaning and 台 represents the sound. Simplified form of 貽.
money
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 貽
Phonosemantic compound. 贝 represents the meaning and 台 represents the sound. Simplified form of 貽.
- 1The meaning half貝 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half台 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawaymoney
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 貽? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 貽
Identify the Components
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How to say to hand down, to give to, to bequeath in Chinese
“to hand down, to give to, to bequeath” in Chinese is貽
The character 貽 (yí) means to hand down or bequeath something, often in the context of passing on knowledge, traditions, or possessions. It is commonly used in formal contexts, such as literature or historical texts, to convey the act of giving something valuable to someone else, particularly in a lineage or cultural sense.
When to use 貽
While 貽 is a formal term, beginners may confuse it with similar-sounding words like 以 (yǐ), which means 'to use.' It's often used in literary contexts, so it's less common in everyday conversation. Watch out for the correct tone; mispronouncing it may change its meaning.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 貽 with 赠 (zèng), which also means 'to give' but is more commonly used in modern contexts. For example, saying '我貽了一本书给他' (I bequeathed a book to him) is awkward; use '我送了一本书给他' instead.
Write 貽
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Practice writing 貽 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 貽
Compound Meaning
What does 贻笑大方 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 貽
You might see it in a sentence like '他将经验貽给后代' (He bequeathed his experience to future generations).
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