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驿 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
驿yìrelay stationn, 8 strokes, radical 马, rank #63633, Very Hard
驿yìpost horseunknown, 8 strokes, radical 马, rank #63633, Very Hard
yì(yi4) T4
  1. 1relay station
  2. 2post horse
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

驿(驛)yì(yi4)

The character 驿 (yì) refers to a relay station, commonly used in historical contexts where post horses were changed or rested. It signifies a location critical for the transportation of messages and goods, particularly along ancient trade routes. Today, it can also symbolize the concept of communication and connectivity.

Strokes8Radical马Frequency#63633DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

The concept of 驿 is deeply rooted in Chinese history, particularly during the Tang and Song dynasties when an extensive network of relay stations facilitated trade and communication across vast distances, significantly impacting governance and military logistics.

Memory Tip

Imagine a horse (马, mǎ) being led to a station (驿) where it can rest and be replaced by another. The character looks like a horse (马) standing within a shelter (the top part), emphasizing its role as a resting place for horses.

Meanings of 驿

yì(yi4)
1relay station
2post horse
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 驿

驿Simplified
驛Traditional
8Strokes
马Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 驿

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Podcast: 驿

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AI Study Notes for 驿

Usage Notes

When using 驿, it’s important to note that it is mostly found in historical or literary contexts, rather than in everyday conversation. Common collocations include 驿站 (yìzhàn, relay station) and 邮驿 (yóuyì, post station), emphasizing its connection to postal services.

HSK Study Tips

Although 驿 is not present in HSK vocabulary lists, it connects with HSK Level 4 words related to transportation and communication. Students should focus on recognizing its usage in historical texts and understanding its role in the development of postal systems in China.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 驿 with other characters related to transportation, such as 站 (zhàn, station) or 邮 (yóu, post), leading to incorrect phrases like 邮驿 (yóuyì) being misunderstood. Always use 驿 specifically for historical relay stations.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 驿

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Etymology of 驿

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

horse

Semantic (meaning)马
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 驿

  1. 1The meaning half马 carries the sense.
  2. 2The giveawayhorse
  3. 3On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 驿? 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 驿?

Decomposition of 驿

IDS Structure⿰马？
驿Full Character
=
马Ma3
left
Exercise 1 of 1

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 驿?

How to say relay station in Chinese

“relay station” in Chinese is驿yì

The character 驿 (yì) refers to a relay station, commonly used in historical contexts where post horses were changed or rested. It signifies a location critical for the transportation of messages and goods, particularly along ancient trade routes. Today, it can also symbolize the concept of communication and connectivity.

When to use 驿

When using 驿, it’s important to note that it is mostly found in historical or literary contexts, rather than in everyday conversation. Common collocations include 驿站 (yìzhàn, relay station) and 邮驿 (yóuyì, post station), emphasizing its connection to postal services.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 驿 with other characters related to transportation, such as 站 (zhàn, station) or 邮 (yóu, post), leading to incorrect phrases like 邮驿 (yóuyì) being misunderstood. Always use 驿 specifically for historical relay stations.

Write 驿

驿

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

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Word Family of 驿

Words Containing This Character4
驿站relay station for post horses (old)驛站
驿yìpost horse驛
驿城区Yicheng district of Zhumadian city 駐馬店市|驻马店市[Zhù​mǎ​diàn​shì], Henan驛城區
驿城Yicheng district of Zhumadian city 駐馬店市|驻马店市[Zhù​mǎ​diàn​shì], Henan驛城
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 驿站 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 驿

It's primarily used in historical contexts or in literary works related to transportation.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 驿?

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