HSK 7, n, 13 strokes, radical 氵, rank #15500, Very Hard
溢
yì
to overflow
HSK 7, unknown, 13 strokes, radical 氵, rank #15500, Very Hard
溢
yì
(literary) excessive
HSK 7, unknown, 13 strokes, radical 氵, rank #15500, Very Hard
溢
yì
old variant of 鎰|镒[yi4]
HSK 7, unknown, 13 strokes, radical 氵, rank #15500, Very Hard
yì(yi4) T4
1full; overflowing
2to overflow
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March 24, 2026
溢yì(yi4)
The character 溢 (yì) primarily means to overflow or spill over, often used in contexts relating to liquids or emotions. It can also describe something that is excessive or abundant, conveying a sense of being more than what is necessary or usual.
Strokes13Radical氵Frequency#15500DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of overflowing can be metaphorically tied to emotions, particularly in poetry and literature, where feelings are often described as overflowing like water.
Memory Tip
Imagine a cup that is so full of water that it starts to overflow. The character 溢 has a water radical (氵) on the left that suggests fluidity, while the right side resembles a person watching in surprise at the overflowing cup, connecting the visual to the pronunciation 'yì'.
Meanings of 溢
yì(yi4)
1full; overflowing
2to overflow
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 溢
溢Simplified
13Strokes
氵Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 溢
Podcast: 溢
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AI Study Notes for 溢
Quick Contrast
溢 (yì) vs 漏 (lòu) — use 溢 when referring to an overflow or excessive abundance, while 漏 indicates a leak or escape of liquid.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 溢 with similar-sounding words; it specifically relates to overflow rather than just fullness. It's used in both formal and informal contexts, often in literary writing or when discussing emotions. Common collocations include 溢出 (yìchū - to overflow) and 溢价 (yìjià - premium price).
HSK Study Tips
Although 溢 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to other water-related characters and concepts at higher levels. Focus on understanding its usage in both literal and metaphorical contexts, such as emotional overflow.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 溢 to describe a situation that is merely full, rather than overflowing. For example, saying '这个杯子溢' (This cup is full) is incorrect; it should be '这个杯子满' (This cup is full).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 溢
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Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 益 represents the sound. Originally written as 益.
1The meaning half氵 carries the sense.
2The sound half益 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaywater
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 溢? 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 溢?
Decomposition of 溢
IDS Structure⿰氵益
溢Full Character
=
氵shui3
left
益Yi4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 溢?
How to say full; overflowing in Chinese
“full; overflowing” in Chinese is溢yì
The character 溢 (yì) primarily means to overflow or spill over, often used in contexts relating to liquids or emotions. It can also describe something that is excessive or abundant, conveying a sense of being more than what is necessary or usual.
When to use 溢
Be careful not to confuse 溢 with similar-sounding words; it specifically relates to overflow rather than just fullness. It's used in both formal and informal contexts, often in literary writing or when discussing emotions. Common collocations include 溢出 (yìchū - to overflow) and 溢价 (yìjià - premium price).
溢 or something close to it
溢 (yì) vs 漏 (lòu) — use 溢 when referring to an overflow or excessive abundance, while 漏 indicates a leak or escape of liquid.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 溢 to describe a situation that is merely full, rather than overflowing. For example, saying '这个杯子溢' (This cup is full) is incorrect; it should be '这个杯子满' (This cup is full).
Write 溢
溢
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Practice writing 溢 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 溢
溢 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 4 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
有一点白兰地____出了玻璃杯。
A little cognac slopped over the edge of the glass.
Example Sentences for 溢 (10)
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1
有一点白兰地溢出了玻璃杯。
yǒu yī diǎn bái lán dì yì chū le bō lí bēi。
A little cognac slopped over the edge of the glass.
