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March 24, 2026
医(醫)yī(yi1)
The character 医 (yī) refers to the field of medicine and the profession of a doctor. It can denote both the act of curing or treating someone and the medical profession itself. This character is commonly used in medical contexts, such as hospitals, clinics, and discussions about health and treatment.
Strokes7Radical匸Frequency#5099DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, respect for doctors is deeply ingrained, and the practice of traditional medicine, alongside modern approaches, reflects a holistic view of health. The character 医 is often seen in the context of both Western and Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Memory Tip
Think of a doctor (医) as someone who 'yī' (sounds like 'ee') heals others. Visualize a doctor holding a stethoscope, representing the medical field. The character's radical, 匚, can be imagined as a box containing medicine, emphasizing its healing purpose.
Meanings of 医
yī(yi1)
1medical
2medicine
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 医
医Simplified
醫Traditional
7Strokes
匸Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#5099Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L2
Podcast: 医
Podcast: 医
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AI Study Notes for 医
Quick Contrast
医生 (yīshēng) refers specifically to a doctor or physician, while 医 (yī) can refer more broadly to the field of medicine.
Memory Mnemonic
Think of a doctor (医) as someone who 'yī' (sounds like 'ee') heals others. Visualize a doctor holding a stethoscope, representing the medical field. The character's radical, 匚, can be imagined as a box containing medicine, emphasizing its healing purpose.
Usage Notes
When using 医, it is essential to combine it with other characters to form compound words, such as 医生 (yīshēng - doctor) or 医院 (yīyuàn - hospital). Learners often confuse it with 义 (yì), which means righteousness. Remember that 医 is primarily used in medical contexts.
HSK Study Tips
Though not part of the HSK levels, 医 connects well with other health-related vocabulary like 病 (bìng - illness) and 药 (yào - medicine). Focus on practicing compound words and phrases to deepen understanding and usage.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, respect for doctors is deeply ingrained, and the practice of traditional medicine, alongside modern approaches, reflects a holistic view of health. The character 医 is often seen in the context of both Western and Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 医 (yī) with similar-sounding characters like 义 (yì), which can lead to miscommunication. For example, saying 医生 (yīshēng) as 义生 (yìshēng) changes the meaning entirely from 'doctor' to a nonsensical term.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 医
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六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声å—)~80-90% of characters
Explanation
Simplified form of 醫. Phonosemantic compound. 酉 represents the meaning and 殹 represents the sound. The 酉 component is a pictograph of a container for wine, which is sometimes used for medicinal purposes. The traditional component 酉 was removed
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Grammar Patterns of 医
医 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 6 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.
I know that you'refloundering around, trying to grasp at any straw.
9
“谢谢你，医生，”护士傻笑着说。
“ “ xiè xiè， nǐ ，，” yī shēng ，” hù shì shǎ。
"Thank you doctor," said the nurse with a simper.
10
安排一下把病历转给你的新医生的事宜。
ān pái yī xià bǎ bìng lì zhuǎn gěi nǐ de xīn yī shēng de shì yí。
Arrange for the transfer of medical records to your new doctor.
Cultural Notes for 医
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, respect for doctors is deeply ingrained, and the practice of traditional medicine, alongside modern approaches, reflects a holistic view of health. The character 医 is often seen in the context of both Western and Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Word Family of 医
Compounds2
殹yi4an echo
悘
Words Containing This Character20
医生yīshēngdoctor醫生
医院yīyuànhospital醫院
医疗yīliáomedical treatment醫療
医学yīxuémedicine醫學
医yīmedical醫
医药yīyàomedical醫藥
中医zhōngyītraditional Chinese medical science中醫
医师doctor醫師
法医forensic investigator法醫
医务yīwùmedical affairs醫務
兽医vet獸醫
医学院medical school醫學院
医护medic醫護
牙医dentist牙醫
医治to treat (an illness)醫治
就医jiùyīto receive medical treatment就醫
医疗费medical expenses醫療費
中西医Chinese and Western medicine中西醫
行医to practice medicine (esp. in private practice)行醫
军医military doctor軍醫
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 殹 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 医
It translates to 'medicine' or 'doctor' in English, and can refer to the act of curing or treating.
It is commonly used when discussing health, medical professions, and treatments.
Yes, it is appropriate in both formal and informal contexts when discussing medicine or healthcare.
