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叶 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
叶xiésurname YeHSK 6, nr, 5 strokes, radical 口, rank #4242, Hard
叶xiéto be in harmonyHSK 6, nr, 5 strokes, radical 口, rank #4242, Hard
叶xiéleafHSK 6, nr, 5 strokes, radical 口, rank #4242, Hard
叶xiépageHSK 6, nr, 5 strokes, radical 口, rank #4242, Hard
叶xiélobeHSK 6, nr, 5 strokes, radical 口, rank #4242, Hard
叶xié(historical) periodHSK 6, nr, 5 strokes, radical 口, rank #4242, Hard
叶xiéleaf, page; surnameHSK 6, nr, 5 strokes, radical 口, rank #4242, Hard
叶xiéclassifier for small boatsHSK 6, unknown, 5 strokes, radical 口, rank #4242, Hard
叶yèsurname YeHSK 6, nr, 5 strokes, radical 口, rank #4242, Hard
叶yèto be in harmonyHSK 6, nr, 5 strokes, radical 口, rank #4242, Hard
叶yèleafHSK 6, nr, 5 strokes, radical 口, rank #4242, Hard
叶yèpageHSK 6, nr, 5 strokes, radical 口, rank #4242, Hard
叶yèlobeHSK 6, nr, 5 strokes, radical 口, rank #4242, Hard
叶yè(historical) periodHSK 6, nr, 5 strokes, radical 口, rank #4242, Hard
叶yèleaf, page; surnameHSK 6, nr, 5 strokes, radical 口, rank #4242, Hard
叶yèclassifier for small boatsHSK 6, unknown, 5 strokes, radical 口, rank #4242, Hard
xié(xie2)xie
primary
 T2
  1. 1surname Ye
  2. 2to be in harmony
Also a Chinese surname, Yè — see the Surname Dictionary
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

叶(葉)xié(xie2)

The character 叶 (xié) primarily means 'leaf' but also serves as a surname, 'Ye'. It can refer to a page in a book or a lobe of an organ. In discussions about nature or literature, it embodies ideas of harmony and growth, making it a versatile term in various contexts.

Strokes5Radical口Frequency#4242DifficultyHard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, leaves are often symbols of life and renewal, especially in poetry and art, where they represent harmony with nature. The character 叶 may be used in idioms reflecting these themes.

Memory tip

Imagine a giant green leaf (叶, xié) fluttering in the wind, with the shape resembling a page (页, also pronounced yè) from a book. Visualize that page turning harmoniously as you read, linking the character's form to its meanings of leaf and page.

Meanings of 叶

xié(xie2)
primary
1to be in harmony
2leaf
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 叶 means.

About 叶

叶Simplified
葉Traditional
5Strokes
口Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#4242Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6

Podcast: 叶

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Podcast: 叶

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AI study notes for 叶

Usage Notes

In informal contexts, 叶 can be used in phrases related to nature or reading. Common mistakes include confusing it with 页 (yè), which means 'page' specifically; remember that 叶 is primarily about leaves or the surname. Pay attention to tone, as mispronunciation can alter meaning.

HSK Study Tips

Though not listed in HSK, 叶 connects with HSK vocabulary related to nature (e.g., 树, tree) and literature (e.g., 书, book). Focus on understanding its dual meanings to enhance vocabulary depth.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 叶 (xié) with 页 (yè); for example, saying '我在读书的叶' instead of '我在读书的页' (I am reading a page of a book). Remember that 叶 relates more to leaves and the surname.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 叶

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Etymology of 叶

Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 十 represents the sound. In simplified Chinese 叶 is also used to mean "leaf; page", while in traditional Chinese this meaning is written with a separate character 葉.

Learn more about character formation (六书)
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

What kind of character is 叶?

Decomposition of 叶

IDS Structure⿰口十
叶Full character
=
口kou3
left
十shi2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 叶?

How to say surname Ye in Chinese

“surname Ye” in Chinese is叶xié

The character 叶 (xié) primarily means 'leaf' but also serves as a surname, 'Ye'. It can refer to a page in a book or a lobe of an organ. In discussions about nature or literature, it embodies ideas of harmony and growth, making it a versatile term in various contexts.

When to use 叶

In informal contexts, 叶 can be used in phrases related to nature or reading. Common mistakes include confusing it with 页 (yè), which means 'page' specifically; remember that 叶 is primarily about leaves or the surname. Pay attention to tone, as mispronunciation can alter meaning.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 叶 (xié) with 页 (yè); for example, saying '我在读书的叶' instead of '我在读书的页' (I am reading a page of a book). Remember that 叶 relates more to leaves and the surname.

Write 叶

叶

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

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Grammar patterns of 叶

叶 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 8 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.

Related grammar lessons2
Exercise 1 of 4

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

伯爵茶、大吉岭茶和茉莉花茶是最畅销的几种传统茶____。

Earl Grey, Darjeeling and Jasmine are best-selling traditional teas.

Common confusions with 叶

叶vs冂
jiōng

Similar shape but different radicals.

Exercise 1 of 1

Which one

Which one means “surname Ye”?

or

Example sentences for 叶 (16)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
伯爵茶、大吉岭茶和茉莉花茶是最畅销的几种传统茶叶。

bà jué chá、 dà jí lǐng chá hé mòlì huā chá shì zuì chàngxiāo de jǐ zhǒng chuántǒng cháyè。

Earl Grey, Darjeeling and Jasmine are best-selling traditional teas.
2
你说得很对，这是月桂树的叶子。

nǐ shuō de hěn duì， zhè shì yuè guì shù de yèzi。

You are absolutely correct. The leaves are from a bay tree.
3
最近一期的《柳叶刀》杂志中强调了这一日益严重的问题。

zuìjìn yī qī de《 liǔ xié dāo》 zázhì zhōng qiángdiào le zhè yī rìyì yánzhòng de wèntí。

The growing problem is underlined in the latest issue of the Lancet.
4
头顶上，直升机在呼啸，巨大的螺旋桨叶片搅动着空气。

tóudǐng shàng， zhíshēngjī zài hūxiào， jùdà de luó xuán jiǎng xié piàn jiǎo dòng zhe kōngqì。

Overhead, the chopper roared and the big blades churned the air.
5
这条被子有漂亮的荷叶饰边，而且绗缝活做得也很精致。

zhè tiáo bèizi yǒu piàoliang de hé xié shì biān， érqiě háng féng huó zuò de yě hěn jīngzhì。

The quilt has pretty, scalloped edges and intricate quilting.
6
她抱着两个用带有冬青枝叶图案的纸包装的盒子走了出来。

tā bào zhe liǎng gè yòng dàiyǒu dōng qīng zhī xié tú’àn de zhǐ bāozhuāng de hézi zǒu le chūlái。

She came out with two packages wrapped in holly-sprigged paper.
7
她不小心把架子上的茶叶罐碰了下来。

tā bù xiǎoxīn bǎ jiàzi shàng de cháyè guàn pèng le xiàlái。

She accidentally knocked the tea tin off the shelf.
8
他伸手去够身后架子上的一罐烟叶。

tā shēnshǒu qù gòu shēn hòu jiàzi shàng de yī guàn yān xié。

He reached for a tin of tobacco on the shelf behind him.
9
她围绕这个主题添枝加叶地说了大约10分钟。

tā wéirào zhège zhǔtí tiān zhī jiā xié dì shuō le dàyuē10 fēnzhōng。

She embroidered on this theme for about ten minutes.
10
她走到窗前，拉起了百叶窗。

tā zǒu dào chuāng qián， lā qǐ le bǎi xié chuāng。

She went to the window and raised the blinds.
11
这支乐队的演奏非常和谐，所有乐器的声音都完美地叶在一起。

Zhè zhī yuèduì de yǎnzòu fēicháng héxié, suǒyǒu yuèqì de shēngyīn dōu wánměi de xié zài yīqǐ.

The band's performance was very harmonious, with all the instruments perfectly in tune with each other.
12
在这个项目中，各个部门需要叶地合作，才能达到最终的目标。

Zài zhège xiàngmù zhōng, gège bùmén xūyào xié de hézuò, cáinéng dádào zuìzhōng de mùbiāo.

In this project, all departments need to work in harmony to achieve the final goal.
13
在音乐会上，管弦乐队的演奏完全叶在一起，令人陶醉。

Zài yīnyuè huì shàng, guǎnxián yuèduì de yǎnzòu wánquán xié zài yīqǐ, lìng rén táozuì.

At the concert, the orchestra's performance was completely in harmony, mesmerizing the audience.
14
这个团队的成员之间叶得非常好，使得项目进展顺利。

Zhège tuánduì de chéngyuán zhī jiān xié de fēicháng hǎo, shǐ de xiàngmù jìnzhǎn shùnlì.

The team members work very harmoniously together, making the project progress smoothly.
15
他们在讨论中总是能够叶地达成一致的意见。

Tāmen zài tǎolùn zhōng zǒng shì nénggòu xié dì dáchéng yīzhì de yìjiàn.

They always manage to reach a consensus harmoniously during discussions.
16
这幅画中的颜色和形状叶得完美无瑕，给人一种宁静的感觉。

Zhè fú huà zhōng de yánsè hé xíngzhuàng xié de wánměi wúxiá, gěi rén yī zhǒng níngjìng de gǎnjué.

The colors and shapes in this painting are in perfect harmony, giving a sense of tranquility.

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Word Family of 叶

Words containing this character19
叶xiéleaf葉
茶叶cháyètea茶葉
叶子yèzifoliage葉子
树叶shùyètree leaves樹葉
朱丽叶zhūlìyèJuliet or Juliette (name)朱麗葉
落叶luòyèdead leaves落葉
叶片yèpiànvane葉片
绿叶lǜyè(fig.) actor playing a supporting role綠葉
百叶窗bǎiyèchuāngshutter百葉窗
烟叶yānyèleaf tobacco煙葉
什叶派shíyèpàiShia sect (of Islam)什葉派
叶利钦yèlìqīnYeltsin (name)葉利欽
枫叶fēngyèmaple leaf楓葉
三叶草sānyècǎoclover三葉草
枝叶zhīyèbranch and leaf枝葉
红叶hóngyèred autumnal leaves紅葉
中叶zhōngyèmiddle period中葉
叶酸yèsuānfolic acid葉酸
秋叶qiūyèautumn leaf秋葉
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 叶

What does 茶叶 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 叶

Common phrases with 叶 include '叶子' (yèzi), meaning 'leaf', and '书页' (shūyè), which means 'book page'. These phrases illustrate the different contexts in which 叶 can be used.

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