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撄 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
yīngto offend, to oppose, to run counter tog, 14 strokes, radical 扌, Very Hard
yīngopposeunknown, 14 strokes, radical 扌, Very Hard
yīngto attackunknown, 14 strokes, radical 扌, Very Hard
yīng(ying1) T1
  1. 1to offend, to oppose, to run counter to
  2. 2oppose
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
(攖)yīng(ying1)

The character 撄 (yīng) means to offend or oppose, often in a context where one action runs counter to another. It can also imply a sense of attack or confrontation, typically in a disagreement or dispute. This word is less commonly used in day-to-day conversation but may appear in more formal or literary contexts.

Strokes14RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, the concept of 'saving face' is paramount, and 撄 can relate to actions that cause offense or challenge someone's honor. This makes the understanding of this term important in social interactions.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person holding a spear (the radical 扌, representing actions) aiming it at a wall (the character's form), signifying an attack or opposition. The sound 'yīng' can be remembered by visualizing someone yelling 'Ying!' as they confront someone else.

Meanings of 撄

yīng(ying1)
1to offend, to oppose, to run counter to
2oppose
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 撄

Simplified
Traditional
14Strokes
Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 撄

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AI Study Notes for 撄

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a person holding a spear (the radical 扌, representing actions) aiming it at a wall (the character's form), signifying an attack or opposition. The sound 'yīng' can be remembered by visualizing someone yelling 'Ying!' as they confront someone else.

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include confusing 撄 with similar characters like 迎 (yíng, to welcome), which has a completely different meaning. This word is typically used in more formal situations and should be avoided in casual conversation. Be mindful of the tone; using the wrong tone can change the meaning entirely.

HSK Study Tips

Although 撄 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects to concepts like 反对 (fǎnduì, to oppose) and 攻击 (gōngjī, to attack), which can be beneficial for learners at HSK Level 4 and above. Focus on understanding its nuances in context and how it contrasts with other oppositional terms.

Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, the concept of 'saving face' is paramount, and 撄 can relate to actions that cause offense or challenge someone's honor. This makes the understanding of this term important in social interactions.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 撄 with 迎 (yíng), leading to incorrect usage in contexts discussing welcome or greeting. It’s important to remember that 撄 implies offense or opposition, not friendliness.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 撄

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Etymology of 撄

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

hand

Semantic (meaning)
+
Phonetic (sound)
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 撄?

Decomposition of 撄

IDS Structure⿰扌婴
Full Character
=
shou3
left
ying1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 撄?

Write 撄

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

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Cultural Notes for 撄

🏮Cultural insight

In traditional Chinese culture, the concept of 'saving face' is paramount, and 撄 can relate to actions that cause offense or challenge someone's honor. This makes the understanding of this term important in social interactions.

Word Family of 撄

Words Containing This Character1
yīngoppose
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 撄 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 撄

No, 撄 is more formal and is typically found in literary texts or in discussions about conflict.