Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
异(異)yì(yi4)
The character 异 (yì) primarily means 'different' or 'other.' It is often used to describe something unusual or strange, and can imply a sense of distinction or separation between things. In various contexts, it may refer to differences in opinions, cultures, or characteristics.
Strokes6Radical廾Frequency#3342DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of '异' often relates to diversity and the appreciation of differences among people, especially in discussions of ethnicities and ideas. This is reflected in the phrase '异彩纷呈' (yìcǎi fēnchéng), which means a variety of colors, symbolizing diversity.
Memory Tip
Imagine a pair of socks, one red and one blue. The contrasting colors represent '异' (yì), meaning different. The character itself resembles a person (亻) standing apart from a group (异), emphasizing the idea of separation or distinction.
Meanings of 异
yì(yi4)
1different
2other
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 异
异Simplified
異Traditional
6Strokes
廾Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#3342Frequency Rank
Podcast: 异
Podcast: 异
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 异
Quick Contrast
异 (yì) vs 不同 (bùtóng) — choose 异 for a nuance of unusual or strange, while 不同 emphasizes mere difference.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a pair of socks, one red and one blue. The contrasting colors represent '异' (yì), meaning different. The character itself resembles a person (亻) standing apart from a group (异), emphasizing the idea of separation or distinction.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 异 with 相 (xiāng), which means 'mutual' or 'each other.' Be mindful of the tone; 异 is pronounced with a fourth tone (yì), not the second (yí). This character frequently appears in phrases like '异国' (yìguó), meaning 'foreign country.'
HSK Study Tips
While 异 is not officially categorized in HSK levels, it connects with other words reflecting differences or abnormalities, such as '不同' (bùtóng, different) and '异常' (yìcháng, abnormal). Students should practice using it in various contexts to understand its nuances.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of '异' often relates to diversity and the appreciation of differences among people, especially in discussions of ethnicities and ideas. This is reflected in the phrase '异彩纷呈' (yìcǎi fēnchéng), which means a variety of colors, symbolizing diversity.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 异 with 其他 (qítā, other), leading to incorrect phrases such as '异其他' instead of simply using '其他'. Another mistake is mispronouncing the tone, saying 'yí' instead of 'yì'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 异
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 异 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 异 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 异
异 carries 10 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
However, many customers found the smell of this product distinctly off-putting.
Cultural Notes for 异
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of '异' often relates to diversity and the appreciation of differences among people, especially in discussions of ethnicities and ideas. This is reflected in the phrase '异彩纷呈' (yìcǎi fēnchéng), which means a variety of colors, symbolizing diversity.
Word Family of 异
Words Containing This Character20
异常yìchángexceptional異常
差异chāyìdifference差異
异yìother異
怪异guàiyìmonstrous怪異
诡异strange詭異
异性yìxìngthe opposite sex異性
异议yìyìobjection異議
变异biànyìvariation變異
奇异fantastic奇異
优异yōuyìexceptional優異
异教徒heathen異教徒
异地abroad異地
特异性specific特異性
异国exotic異國
诧异chàyìflabbergasted詫異
异样difference異樣
无异nothing other than無異
惊异amazed驚異
各异all different各異
特异excellent特異
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 异常 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 异
异 is pronounced as yì in Mandarin. The tone is the fourth tone, which is a falling tone, so it's pronounced with a sharp drop in pitch.
Some synonyms for 异 include 不同 (bùtóng), which means 'different,' and 奇怪 (qíguài), meaning 'strange.' These words can be used interchangeably depending on the context of the conversation.
You can use 异 in sentences to describe differences or to denote something that is strange. For example, '这两个地方的文化很异' means 'The cultures of these two places are very different.' This shows how the character can convey contrast in cultural contexts.
异 (yì) means 'different' or 'other' in Chinese. It can also imply something unusual or strange. This character is often used in contexts where a distinction is made or when something is out of the ordinary.
Common phrases include '异国' (yìguó, foreign country) and '异常' (yìcháng, abnormal).
It can be both; while it often denotes difference, it can also imply something surprising or remarkable, depending on the context.
You can say '他的想法很异' (Tā de xiǎngfǎ hěn yì), meaning 'His ideas are very different.'
