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March 24, 2026
颖(穎)Yǐng(Ying3)
The character 颖 (yǐng) primarily refers to the tip or point of something, such as a grain or a rice tassel. It is also used as a surname and can describe someone who is clever, talented, or outstanding. In contexts of personal attributes, it conveys a sense of sharpness or brilliance, making it suitable for describing gifted individuals.
Strokes13Radical页Frequency#32028DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, names with the character 颖 are often chosen to reflect a person's intelligence or potential, emphasizing the value placed on education and talent.
Memory Tip
Imagine a sharp tip of a pencil (the 'point') that is able to produce clever ideas. The character 颖 looks like a person with a sharp mind, as the top parts suggest a 'head' and 'sharpness', representing intelligence and talent.
Meanings of 颖
Yǐng(Ying3)
1head of grain
2husk
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 颖 means.
About 颖
颖Simplified
穎Traditional
13Strokes
页Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#32028Frequency Rank
Podcast: 颖
Podcast: 颖
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AI Study Notes for 颖
Quick Contrast
聪明 (cōngmíng, clever) vs 聪慧 (cōnghuì, wise) — use 颖 when emphasizing sharpness or brilliance in talent, while 聪明 focuses on cleverness and 聪慧 on wisdom.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 颖 with similar-sounding characters, such as 应 (yìng). It is typically used in both formal and informal contexts but is more often seen in literary or academic discussions regarding talent. Be mindful of the third tone (ǐ) to avoid mispronunciation.
HSK Study Tips
While 颖 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects to HSK 4 terms related to intelligence and talent, such as 聪明 (cōngmíng, clever). Focus on recognizing its use in contexts discussing personal attributes.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 颖 with other similar characters, leading to misunderstandings. For example, confusing it with 影 (yǐng, shadow) due to the similar pronunciation. Always remember that 颖 relates to sharpness or intelligence, while 影 refers to shadows.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 颖
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How Well Do You Know 颖?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 颖 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
颖 = 禾 + 匕. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 颖
IDS Structure⿰⿱匕禾页
颖Full Character
=
匕bi3
top
禾he2
bottom
页ye4
Exercise 1 of 3
Parts
Which of these is part of 颖?
How to say surname Ying in Chinese
“surname Ying” in Chinese is颖Yǐng
The character 颖 (yǐng) primarily refers to the tip or point of something, such as a grain or a rice tassel. It is also used as a surname and can describe someone who is clever, talented, or outstanding. In contexts of personal attributes, it conveys a sense of sharpness or brilliance, making it suitable for describing gifted individuals.
When to use 颖
Common mistakes include confusing 颖 with similar-sounding characters, such as 应 (yìng). It is typically used in both formal and informal contexts but is more often seen in literary or academic discussions regarding talent. Be mindful of the third tone (ǐ) to avoid mispronunciation.
颖 or something close to it
聪明 (cōngmíng, clever) vs 聪慧 (cōnghuì, wise) — use 颖 when emphasizing sharpness or brilliance in talent, while 聪明 focuses on cleverness and 聪慧 on wisdom.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 颖 with other similar characters, leading to misunderstandings. For example, confusing it with 影 (yǐng, shadow) due to the similar pronunciation. Always remember that 颖 relates to sharpness or intelligence, while 影 refers to shadows.
Write 颖
颖
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Practice writing 颖 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 颖
颖 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 9 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
他们的作品一如既往地引人入胜、气韵潇洒、新____别致，不会让你失望。
Their work has all the usual punch, panache and flair you'dexpect.
Example Sentences for 颖 (6)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
他们的作品一如既往地引人入胜、气韵潇洒、新颖别致，不会让你失望。
tā mén de zuò pǐn yī rú jì wǎng dì yǐn rén rù shèng、 、 qì yùn xiāo、 sǎ 、 xīn yǐng， bié zhì ， bù huì ràng。
Their work has all the usual punch, panache and flair you'dexpect.
