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移 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
移
yí
to move
HSK 5, v, 11 strokes, radical 禾, rank #2583, Hard
移
yí
to shift
HSK 5, v, 11 strokes, radical 禾, rank #2583, Hard
移
yí
to change
HSK 5, v, 11 strokes, radical 禾, rank #2583, Hard
移
yí
to alter
HSK 5, v, 11 strokes, radical 禾, rank #2583, Hard
移
yí
to remove
HSK 5, v, 11 strokes, radical 禾, rank #2583, Hard
移
yí
to shift, to move about, to drift
HSK 5, v, 11 strokes, radical 禾, rank #2583, Hard
yí(yi2)yi T2
1to move
2to shift
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March 24, 2026
移yí(yi2)
The character 移 (yí) primarily means 'to move' or 'to shift.' It is commonly used in contexts involving physical movement, such as relocating objects or changing positions, as well as in abstract contexts like altering plans or ideas. This character conveys a sense of transition or change.
Strokes11Radical禾Frequency#2583DifficultyHard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 移 often relates to the practice of moving homes during auspicious times, as many believe it brings good fortune. The act of moving is sometimes accompanied by rituals to ensure a smooth transition.
Memory tip
Think of 移 (yí) as a person moving to a new home, with the radical '禾' (grain) suggesting growth and movement, while '移' itself resembles a person carrying something heavy, symbolizing the effort involved in moving.
Meanings of 移
yí(yi2)
1to move
2to shift
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 移
移Simplified
11Strokes
禾Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#2583Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 移
Podcast: 移
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AI study notes for 移
Quick Contrast
迁 (qiān) - use 移 for general movement, while 迁 specifically refers to relocating or migrating over longer distances.
Usage Notes
Avoid confusing 移 with 迁 (qiān), which also means 'to move' but is more specific to relocation, often of people or households. In formal contexts, 移 may be used in phrases like 移动 (yídòng - to move) or 转移 (zhuǎnyí - to shift/transfer). Be mindful of the tone; the correct pronunciation is yí (second tone).
HSK Study Tips
While 移 is not included in the official HSK levels, it connects well with vocabulary related to movement and change from HSK 3 and 4, such as 走 (zǒu - to walk) and 改变 (gǎibiàn - to change). Focus on practicing it in sentences to reinforce its usage.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 移 with 走 (zǒu - to walk) when referring to moving. For example, saying '我走这些书' instead of '我移这些书' is incorrect; it should be '我移这些书'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 移
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The character 移 (yí) primarily means 'to move' or 'to shift.' It is commonly used in contexts involving physical movement, such as relocating objects or changing positions, as well as in abstract contexts like altering plans or ideas. This character conveys a sense of transition or change.
When to use 移
Avoid confusing 移 with 迁 (qiān), which also means 'to move' but is more specific to relocation, often of people or households. In formal contexts, 移 may be used in phrases like 移动 (yídòng - to move) or 转移 (zhuǎnyí - to shift/transfer). Be mindful of the tone; the correct pronunciation is yí (second tone).
移 or something close to it
迁 (qiān) - use 移 for general movement, while 迁 specifically refers to relocating or migrating over longer distances.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 移 with 走 (zǒu - to walk) when referring to moving. For example, saying '我走这些书' instead of '我移这些书' is incorrect; it should be '我移这些书'.
Write 移
移
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Grammar patterns of 移
移 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 6 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.
The human population swelled, at least temporarily, as migrants moved south.
5
人们为找工作而迁移到雅加达这类城市里。
rénmen wèi zhǎo gōngzuò ér qiānyí dào yǎ jiā dá zhè lèi chéngshì lǐ。
People migrate to cities like Jakarta in search of work.
6
他是个坚定不移的经验论者，不屑研究理论。
tā shì gè jiāndìng bù yí de jīngyàn lún zhě， búxiè yánjiū lǐlùn。
He was an unswerving empiri-cist with little time for theory.
7
那个人可以比较轻松地从轮椅上移到座位上。
nàge rén kěyǐ bǐjiào qīngsōng dì cóng lúnyǐ shàng yí dào zuòwèi shàng。
The person can transfer from wheelchair to seat with relative ease.
8
我盯着那个人看，视线无法移开。
wǒ dīng zhe nàge rén kàn， shìxiàn wúfǎ yí kāi。
I stared at the man, couldn't tear my eyes away.
9
摄像机沿着那排选手移动拍摄。
shèxiàngjī yánzhe nà pái xuǎnshǒu yídòng pāishè。
The camera panned along the line of players.
10
这孩子看着那明亮的移动的影像，被迷住了。
zhè háizi kàn zhe nà míngliàng de yídòng de yǐngxiàng， bèi mí zhù le。
The child watched, enthralled by the bright moving images.
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Word Family of 移
Words containing this character20
移动yídòngto move移動
转移zhuǎnyíto shift轉移
移yíto move
移民yímínto immigrate
移植yízhíto transplant
移交yíjiāoto transfer
迁移qiānyíto migrate遷移
移民局yímínjúimmigration office
坚定不移jiāndìngbùyíunswerving堅定不移
推移tuīyí(of time) to elapse or pass
漂移piāoyíto drift
位移wèiyídisplacement (vector)
移居yíjūto migrate
移位yíwèito shift
潜移默化qiányímòhuàimperceptible influence潛移默化
移栽yízāito transplant (horticulture, agriculture)
偏移piānyídisplacement
移开yíkāito move away移開
平移píngyítranslation (geometry)
移送yísòngto transfer (a case, a person, files etc)
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 移
What does 移动 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 移
Some synonyms for 移 (yí) include 转移 (zhuǎnyí), which means to transfer, and 搬 (bān), which means to carry or move. Understanding these synonyms can expand your vocabulary and help you express moving concepts more effectively.
Yes, 移 (yí) is a common word in Chinese and is often used in both spoken and written language. It can appear in various phrases and idioms, making it useful for learners at the HSK 4 level.
You can use 移 (yí) in sentences like '我需要移这个桌子' (Wǒ xūyào yí zhè ge zhuōzi), which means 'I need to move this table.' It emphasizes the action of moving or shifting something from one place to another.
移 (yí) means to move, shift, change, alter, or remove something. It is commonly used in various contexts, such as relocating objects or changing one's position.
You can say '我需要移这些书到桌子上' (Wǒ xūyào yí zhèxiē shū dào zhuōzi shàng), meaning 'I need to move these books to the table.'
移 is generally neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
Common collocations include 移动 (yídòng - to move), 转移 (zhuǎnyí - to shift), and 移民 (yímín - to immigrate).
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