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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.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

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 (10)

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。

bó jué chá、 、 dà jí lǐng chá hé mò lì huā chá shì zuì chàng xiāo de jī zhǒng chuán tǒng chá。

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 dé hěn duì， ， zhè shì yuè guì shù de yè。

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。

zuì jìn yī qī de《 《 liǔ yè》 dāo 》 zá zhì zhōng qiáng tiáo le zhè yī rì yì yán zhòng de。

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。

tóu dǐng shàng， ， zhí shēng jī zài hū， xiào ， jù dà de luó xuán jiǎng yè piàn jiǎo dòng zháo。

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 bèi zǐ yǒu piāo liàng de hé yè shì biān， ， ér qiě háng féng huó zuò dé yě hěn jīng。

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 zháo liǎng gè yòng dài yǒu dōng qīng zhī yè tú àn de zhǐ bāo zhuāng de hé zǐ zǒu le chū lái。

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 xiǎo xīn bǎ jià zǐ shàng de chá yè guàn pèng le xià lái。

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 shēn shǒu qù gòu shēn hòu jià zǐ shàng de yī guàn yān yè。

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 wéi rào zhè gè zhǔ tí tiān zhī jiā yè dì shuō le dà yuē10 10 fēn。

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 yè。

She went to the window and raised the blinds.

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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Juliet or Juliette (name)朱麗葉
落叶dead leaves落葉
叶片vane葉片
绿叶(fig.) actor playing a supporting role綠葉
百叶窗shutter百葉窗
烟叶leaf tobacco煙葉
什叶派Shia sect (of Islam)什葉派
叶利钦Yeltsin (name)葉利欽
枫叶maple leaf楓葉
三叶草clover三葉草
枝叶branch and leaf枝葉
红叶red autumnal leaves紅葉
中叶middle period中葉
叶酸folic acid葉酸
秋叶autumn 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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