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殪 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
殪yìto die, to kill, to exterminateg, 16 strokes, radical 歹
yì(yi4) T4
  1. 1to die, to kill, to exterminate
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March 24, 2026

殪yì(yi4)

The character 殪 (yì) refers to the concepts of death and extermination. It is often used in contexts involving severe destruction or killing, suggesting a more violent or total eradication than just simple death. This character is less commonly used in everyday conversation and might appear more in literary or formal contexts.

Strokes16Radical歹
Cultural Note

The character 殪 can be associated with historical events in China, such as wars or famines, where extermination was prevalent. It reflects the gravity of loss and destruction in Chinese history.

Memory Tip

Imagine a scene where a strong wind (the radical for 'death' is a form of wind) sweeps away everything, leading to complete extermination (the meaning of 殪). The sound 'yì' can be likened to a sharp 'yeet' as you throw everything away, emphasizing the act of destroying.

Meanings of 殪

yì(yi4)
1to die, to kill, to exterminate
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 殪

殪Simplified
16Strokes
歹Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 殪

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Podcast: 殪

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AI Study Notes for 殪

Usage Notes

Be cautious not to confuse 殪 with other characters that also relate to death, as it carries a more intense connotation. It is not commonly used in informal speech, making it more suitable for literary or historical discussions. Common collocations may include terms related to war or extermination.

HSK Study Tips

Although 殪 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, understanding its meaning can enhance comprehension of texts involving historical or military themes, especially at higher levels. Students should focus on its context in literature to better grasp its nuances.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 殪 with 死, thinking they have the same intensity. For example, saying '我想要殪他' (wǒ xiǎng yào yì tā) instead of '我想要死他' (wǒ xiǎng yào sǐ tā), which would be more appropriate in less severe contexts.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 殪

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Etymology of 殪

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

death

Semantic (meaning)歹
+
Phonetic (sound)壹
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 殪

  1. 1The meaning half歹 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half壹 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaydeath
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 殪? 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 殪?

Decomposition of 殪

IDS Structure⿰歹壹
殪Full Character
=
歹dai3
left
壹yi1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 殪?

How to say to die, to kill, to exterminate in Chinese

“to die, to kill, to exterminate” in Chinese is殪yì

The character 殪 (yì) refers to the concepts of death and extermination. It is often used in contexts involving severe destruction or killing, suggesting a more violent or total eradication than just simple death. This character is less commonly used in everyday conversation and might appear more in literary or formal contexts.

When to use 殪

Be cautious not to confuse 殪 with other characters that also relate to death, as it carries a more intense connotation. It is not commonly used in informal speech, making it more suitable for literary or historical discussions. Common collocations may include terms related to war or extermination.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 殪 with 死, thinking they have the same intensity. For example, saying '我想要殪他' (wǒ xiǎng yào yì tā) instead of '我想要死他' (wǒ xiǎng yào sǐ tā), which would be more appropriate in less severe contexts.

Write 殪

殪

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

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Word Family of 殪

Words Containing This Character1
殪yìto exterminate
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 殪 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 殪

No, 殪 is not commonly used in daily conversation; it is more frequently found in literary or formal contexts.

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