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胰 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
pancreas; soapn, 10 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #25378, Hard
(yi2) T2
  1. 1pancreas; soap
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
(yi2)

The character 胰 (yí) primarily means 'pancreas,' a vital organ in the digestive system. In some contexts, it can also refer to 'soap,' particularly in older usages or specific dialects. This word is commonly used in medical terminology and discussions related to health and digestion.

Strokes10RadicalFrequency#25378DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese medicine, the pancreas is linked to the Spleen, emphasizing the importance of digestive health in overall well-being. This reflects the holistic view of health prevalent in Chinese culture.

Memory Tip

Imagine a chef (the pancreas) stirring a pot of soup (digestion) in a kitchen (your body). The chef’s apron resembles the character 胰, with the horizontal line at the top as the chef's hat, reminding you that 'yí' is crucial for making the soup delicious by breaking down food.

Meanings of 胰

(yi2)
1pancreas; soap
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 胰

Simplified
10Strokes
Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 胰

JasonAmy

Podcast:

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 胰

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a chef (the pancreas) stirring a pot of soup (digestion) in a kitchen (your body). The chef’s apron resembles the character 胰, with the horizontal line at the top as the chef's hat, reminding you that 'yí' is crucial for making the soup delicious by breaking down food.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the pronunciation, as confusing 胰 (yí) with similar-sounding words can lead to misunderstandings. This term is generally used in formal or medical contexts, so it may not be common in everyday conversation. Collocations include 胰腺 (yíxiàn - pancreas) in medical discussions.

HSK Study Tips

While 胰 is not included in the HSK lists, it serves as a useful addition to vocabulary related to health and anatomy. Students at lower levels should focus on basic body parts first, while higher-level learners can explore medical terminology and its applications.

Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese medicine, the pancreas is linked to the Spleen, emphasizing the importance of digestive health in overall well-being. This reflects the holistic view of health prevalent in Chinese culture.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 胰 (yí) with similar-sounding characters like 一 (yī), which means 'one.' For example, saying 胰腺 (yīxiàn) instead of 胰腺 (yíxiàn) changes the meaning entirely. Always pay attention to the tone!

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 胰

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Etymology of 胰

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

Phonosemantic compound. ⺼ represents the meaning and 夷 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

flesh

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 胰?

Decomposition of 胰

IDS Structure⿰⺼夷
Full Character
=
rou4
left
yi2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 胰?

Write 胰

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 胰

胰 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). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 1

Complete the Sentence

沈阳哪里有卖通化东宝生产的____岛素?

Does Shenyang where have the insulin that sells a Hua Dongbao production?

Example Sentences for 胰 (1)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
沈阳哪里有卖通化东宝生产的胰岛素?

shěn yáng nǎ lǐ yǒu mài tōng huà dōng bǎo shēng chǎn de yí dǎo sù?

Does Shenyang where have the insulin that sells a Hua Dongbao production?

Cultural Notes for 胰

🏮Cultural insight

In traditional Chinese medicine, the pancreas is linked to the Spleen, emphasizing the importance of digestive health in overall well-being. This reflects the holistic view of health prevalent in Chinese culture.

Word Family of 胰

Words Containing This Character6
胰岛素insulin胰島素
胰腺pancreas
soap
胰腺炎pancreatitis
胰液pancreatic fluid
胰脏pancreas胰臟
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 胰岛素 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 胰

The correct pronunciation is 'yí' with a rising tone.