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役 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
役
yì
forced labor
ng, 7 strokes, radical 彳, rank #12878, Very Hard
役
yì
corvée
ng, 7 strokes, radical 彳, rank #12878, Very Hard
役
yì
obligatory task
ng, 7 strokes, radical 彳, rank #12878, Very Hard
役
yì
military service
ng, 7 strokes, radical 彳, rank #12878, Very Hard
役
yì
to use as servant
ng, 7 strokes, radical 彳, rank #12878, Very Hard
役
yì
to enserf
ng, 7 strokes, radical 彳, rank #12878, Very Hard
役
yì
servant (old)
ng, 7 strokes, radical 彳, rank #12878, Very Hard
役
yì
war
ng, 7 strokes, radical 彳, rank #12878, Very Hard
役
yì
campaign
ng, 7 strokes, radical 彳, rank #12878, Very Hard
役
yì
battle
ng, 7 strokes, radical 彳, rank #12878, Very Hard
役
yì
servant, laborer; service; to serve
ng, 7 strokes, radical 彳, rank #12878, Very Hard
yì(yi4)yi T4
1forced labor
2corvée
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March 24, 2026
役yì(yi4)
The character 役 (yì) primarily refers to various forms of labor, especially those that are obligatory or enforced, such as military service and corvée labor. It can also denote a servant or laborer, emphasizing the aspect of service and duty in both historical and modern contexts.
Strokes7Radical彳Frequency#12878DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In ancient China, corvée labor was a common practice where peasants were compelled to work on state projects, reflecting the historical significance of duty to the state. This concept is critical in understanding the social structure and obligations within Chinese history.
Memory tip
Imagine a soldier in uniform (representing military service) carrying a heavy load (symbolizing forced labor) on his back, while the character 役 resembles a person bent over in labor. The pronunciation 'yì' can be remembered by thinking of 'eek' as the sound of someone who is surprised by the weight of their duty.
Meanings of 役
yì(yi4)
1forced labor
2corvée
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 役 means.
About 役
役Simplified
7Strokes
彳Radical
名语素míngcínoun root (n.root)Part of Speech
#12878Frequency Rank
Podcast: 役
Podcast: 役
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AI study notes for 役
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 役 with similar characters like 用 (yòng), which means 'to use.' 役 is more formal and often used in historical or military contexts. Be mindful of its negative connotation when discussing forced service, and avoid using it casually in everyday conversation.
HSK Study Tips
While not currently included in HSK levels, understanding 役 helps learners grasp the concept of obligation in language. It connects with other words related to service and duty, so focus on similar characters like 服务 (fúwù, service) and 劳动 (láodòng, labor) for broader context.
Common Mistakes
Learners may confuse 役 with 用 (yòng), leading to incorrect usage in contexts involving service. For example, saying '我用去当兵' (Wǒ yòng qù dāngbīng - 'I use to go to the army') should be corrected to '我役去当兵' (Wǒ yì qù dāngbīng).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 役
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The character 役 (yì) primarily refers to various forms of labor, especially those that are obligatory or enforced, such as military service and corvée labor. It can also denote a servant or laborer, emphasizing the aspect of service and duty in both historical and modern contexts.
When to use 役
Common mistakes include confusing 役 with similar characters like 用 (yòng), which means 'to use.' 役 is more formal and often used in historical or military contexts. Be mindful of its negative connotation when discussing forced service, and avoid using it casually in everyday conversation.
What learners get wrong
Learners may confuse 役 with 用 (yòng), leading to incorrect usage in contexts involving service. For example, saying '我用去当兵' (Wǒ yòng qù dāngbīng - 'I use to go to the army') should be corrected to '我役去当兵' (Wǒ yì qù dāngbīng).
Write 役
役
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Practice writing 役 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 役
役 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 11 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
他炫耀自己通过装病来逃避服兵____。
He boasts of dodging military service by feigning illness.
We win half the battle when we make up our minds to take the world as we find it, including the thorns.
10
在灾难性的俄国战役中，拿破仑的军队成了这一愚蠢之举的牺牲品。
zài zāinàn xìng de é guó zhànyì zhōng， ná pò lún de jūnduì chéng le zhè yī yúchǔn zhī jǔ de xīshēng pǐn。
Napoleon's army was sacrificed on the altar of folly in the disastrous Russian campaign.
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Word Family of 役
Compounds1
垼yì
Words containing this character20
战役zhànyìmilitary campaign戰役
退役tuìyìto demobilize
服役fúyìto serve in the army
役yìcorvée
奴役núyìto enslave
现役xiànyì(military) active duty現役
兵役bīngyìmilitary service
拘役jūyìdetention
劳役láoyìforced labor勞役
仆役púyìservant僕役
衙役yáyìbailiff of feudal yamen
杂役záyìodd jobs雜役
差役chāiyìbailiff of feudal yamen
苦役kǔyìcorvée
淮海战役huáihǎizhànyìHuaihai Campaign (Nov 1948-Jan 1949), one of the three major campaigns by the People's Liberation Army near the end of the Chinese Civil War, considered the determining battle of the war淮海戰役
徭役yáoyìcorvee
毕其功于一役bìqígōngyúyíyìto accomplish the whole task at one stroke (idiom)畢其功於一役
辽沈战役liáoshěnzhànyìLiaoshen Campaign (Sep-Nov 1948), the first of the three major campaigns by the People's Liberation Army near the end of the Chinese Civil War遼瀋戰役
役使yìshǐto make use of for labor
使役shǐyìworking (animal)
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 役
What does 战役 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 役
You can use 役 when discussing military service, historical labor practices, or in formal contexts related to duty.
It often has a negative connotation due to its association with forced labor and obligation.
It is more commonly used in formal or historical discussions rather than casual conversation.
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