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曳 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
曳yèto tow, to pull, to dragn, 6 strokes, radical 曰, rank #96459, Very Hard
曳yèTaiwan pr. [yi4]unknown, 6 strokes, radical 曰, rank #96459, Very Hard
yè(ye4) T4
  1. 1to tow, to pull, to drag
  2. 2Taiwan pr. [yi4]
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March 24, 2026
曳yè(ye4)

The character 曳 (yè) refers to the action of dragging or pulling something along, often with effort. It is commonly used in contexts involving transportation, such as towing a vehicle or dragging an object. The nuance implies a sense of exertion or force involved in the action.

Strokes6Radical曰Frequency#96459DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese transportation methods, such as using oxen to drag heavy loads, the concept of 曳 embodies the physical labor of rural life. This reflects the historical importance of agriculture and transport in Chinese society.

Memory Tip

Imagine a giant 'Y' (for 'yè') dragging a heavy anchor across the ground. The shape of the character resembles the action of pulling, as if it's being dragged along with effort.

Meanings of 曳

yè(ye4)
1to tow, to pull, to drag
2Taiwan pr. [yi4]
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 曳

曳Simplified
6Strokes
曰Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 曳

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Podcast: 曳

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AI Study Notes for 曳

Quick Contrast

拖 (tuō, to drag) — use 曳 (yè) when emphasizing the effort involved in the dragging action.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a giant 'Y' (for 'yè') dragging a heavy anchor across the ground. The shape of the character resembles the action of pulling, as if it's being dragged along with effort.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 曳 with similar characters that may have related meanings but different uses. It is mostly used in written language and may sound formal in casual conversation. Common collocations include 曳引 (yè yǐn, to tow) and 曳绳 (yè shéng, to drag a rope).

HSK Study Tips

Although 曳 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects with other verbs of movement and action at higher levels. Focus on its usage in compound words to understand its context better.

Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese transportation methods, such as using oxen to drag heavy loads, the concept of 曳 embodies the physical labor of rural life. This reflects the historical importance of agriculture and transport in Chinese society.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 曳 with 拖 (tuō), which also means to drag but implies a smoother action without as much force. For example, saying '我用力拖这个箱子' (I drag this suitcase with force) should be corrected to '我用力曳这个箱子' to convey the dragging effort.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 曳

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Etymology of 曳

Learn more about character formation (六书)

Decomposition of 曳

IDS Structure⿻？曰
曳Full Character
=
曰yue1
outer
Exercise 1 of 1

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 曳?

Write 曳

曳

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

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Grammar Patterns of 曳

曳 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 2 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

Complete the Sentence

树冠在微风中婆娑摇____。

The tops of the trees rippled in the breeze.

Example Sentences for 曳 (5)

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1
树冠在微风中婆娑摇曳。

shù guān zài wēi fēng zhōng pó suō yáo yè。

The tops of the trees rippled in the breeze.
2
她慢慢走下楼梯，大衣在身后拖曳着。

tā màn màn zǒu xià lóu tī， ， dà yī zài shēn hòu tuō yè。

She came down the stairs slowly, trailing the coat behind her.
3
斯塔维桑有锦绣前程, 这前程犹如一朵未被采摘的花朵,娇容无损,摇曳多姿.

sī tǎ wéi sāng yǒu jǐn xiù qián chéng, , zhè qián chéng yóu rú yī duǒ wèi bèi cǎi zhāi de huā, duǒ , jiāo róng, wú sǔn , yáo.

Stuyvesant had his career before him , untouched and quivering, like a still ungathered flower.
4
空中摇曳的乱麻缠住了他的颈, 伞绳撕碎了伞顶.

kōng zhōng yáo yè de luàn má chán zhù le tā de jǐng, , sǎn shéng sī suì le sǎn.

The risers swung around his neck, connectors cracked his dome.
5
又高又窄的窗外, 柳树随风摇曳.

yòu gāo yòu zhǎi de chuāng wài, , liǔ shù suí fēng yáo.

The willowtrees, outside the high, narrow windows, waved in the wind.

Cultural Notes for 曳

🏮Cultural insight

In traditional Chinese transportation methods, such as using oxen to drag heavy loads, the concept of 曳 embodies the physical labor of rural life. This reflects the historical importance of agriculture and transport in Chinese society.

Word Family of 曳

Words Containing This Character4
摇曳(of a flame) to flicker搖曳
拖曳to pull
曳yèto drag
曳光弹tracer曳光彈
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 摇曳 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 曳

The correct pronunciation is 'yè' with a falling tone.