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吲 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
吲yǐnto smile at; to sneer atn, 7 strokes, radical 口
yǐn(yin3) T3
  1. 1to smile at; to sneer at
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

吲yǐn(yin3)

The character 吲 (yǐn) primarily means 'to smile at' or 'to sneer at.' It is often used in contexts where there is a subtle, perhaps mocking, expression associated with the smile. The nuance of this character suggests a blend of friendliness and slight derision, making it important to consider tone and context when using it.

Strokes7Radical口
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, facial expressions and subtle gestures are often more significant than verbal communication. The concept of smiling or sneering can reflect social hierarchies and interpersonal dynamics, such as respect or mockery.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person with a sly smile, as if they are sneering at someone while also trying to be friendly. The character 吲 resembles a mouth (口) next to a person (亻), suggesting a smile or expression coming from a person. The pronunciation 'yǐn' sounds like 'yin,' which can remind you of a 'yin-yang' balance of friendliness and mockery.

Meanings of 吲

yǐn(yin3)
1to smile at; to sneer at
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 吲

吲Simplified
7Strokes
口Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 吲

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Podcast: 吲

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AI Study Notes for 吲

Usage Notes

This character is less commonly used in everyday conversation, so it may come off as overly formal or literary in casual contexts. A common mistake is to confuse it with 吻 (wěn), which means 'to kiss.' Ensure you maintain the correct tone when pronouncing 吲, as mispronunciation can lead to misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

While 吲 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it can help learners understand more nuanced expressions in Mandarin. Students should focus on recognizing the character in academic or literary texts, as well as related terms like 吲哚 (indole), which may appear in scientific contexts.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 吲 with other characters like 吻 or 笑 (xiào, to laugh), leading to incorrect expressions of affection or humor. For example, saying '我对他吲' (Wǒ duì tā yǐn) incorrectly suggests a smile when the context might require a more literal or different expression.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 吲

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Etymology of 吲

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

To stretch 引 the mouth 口; 引 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 吲

  1. 1The giveawayTo stretch 引 the mouth 口; 引 also provides the pronunciation
  2. 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.

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

Want the full history of 吲? 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 吲?

Decomposition of 吲

IDS Structure⿰口引
吲Full Character
=
口kou3
left
引yin3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 吲?

How to say to smile at; to sneer at in Chinese

“to smile at; to sneer at” in Chinese is吲yǐn

The character 吲 (yǐn) primarily means 'to smile at' or 'to sneer at.' It is often used in contexts where there is a subtle, perhaps mocking, expression associated with the smile. The nuance of this character suggests a blend of friendliness and slight derision, making it important to consider tone and context when using it.

When to use 吲

This character is less commonly used in everyday conversation, so it may come off as overly formal or literary in casual contexts. A common mistake is to confuse it with 吻 (wěn), which means 'to kiss.' Ensure you maintain the correct tone when pronouncing 吲, as mispronunciation can lead to misunderstandings.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 吲 with other characters like 吻 or 笑 (xiào, to laugh), leading to incorrect expressions of affection or humor. For example, saying '我对他吲' (Wǒ duì tā yǐn) incorrectly suggests a smile when the context might require a more literal or different expression.

Write 吲

吲

Practice writing 吲 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 吲

吲 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). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 1

Complete the Sentence

____哚乙酸, 激动素或赤霉酸的外源施用刺激了光合作用.

Exogenous applications of indoleacetic acid, kinetin or gibberellic acid stimulate photosynthesis.

Example Sentences for 吲 (1)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
吲哚乙酸, 激动素或赤霉酸的外源施用刺激了光合作用.

yǐn duǒ yǐ suān, , jī dòng sù huò chì méi suān de wài yuán shī yòng cì jī le guāng hé zuò.

Exogenous applications of indoleacetic acid, kinetin or gibberellic acid stimulate photosynthesis.

Word Family of 吲

Words Containing This Character2
吲哚indole C8H7N (heterocyclic organic compound) (loanword)
吲yǐnsee 吲哚, indole C8H7N
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 吲哚 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 吲

While 吲 means 'to smile at' or 'to sneer at,' 吻 means 'to kiss.' They are different in both meaning and usage.

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