Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
艺 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
艺
yì
skill
HSK 4, n, 4 strokes, radical 艹, rank #5216, Medium
艺
yì
art
HSK 4, n, 4 strokes, radical 艹, rank #5216, Medium
艺
yì
art; talent, ability; craft
HSK 4, n, 4 strokes, radical 艹, rank #5216, Medium
yì(yi4)yi T4
1skill
2art
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
艺(藝)yì(yi4)
The character 艺 (yì) refers to skill or art, often encompassing a broad range of talents and crafts. It is commonly used in contexts related to artistic expressions, such as music, painting, and performance arts, as well as indicating proficiency in various skills. The nuance of this character suggests not only technical ability but also creativity and aesthetic appreciation.
Strokes4Radical艹Frequency#5216DifficultyMedium
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 艺 is deeply rooted in the historical value placed on skilled craftsmanship and artistic ability, often celebrated in traditional festivals and cultural events. Artists and craftsmen are respected figures, and their works are seen as extensions of cultural identity.
Memory tip
Imagine an artist (艺) painting a beautiful scene. The radical for 'art' (艹) on top looks like grass or plants, indicating natural beauty, while the bottom part suggests movement and creativity. Remember 'yì' as a playful artist expressing their talents.
Meanings of 艺
yì(yi4)
1skill
2art
Exercise 1 of 3
By ear
Play it, then pick what 艺 means.
About 艺
艺Simplified
藝Traditional
4Strokes
艹Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#5216Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L4
Podcast: 艺
Podcast: 艺
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI study notes for 艺
Quick Contrast
技 (jì) refers specifically to skill or technique, often in a practical or technical context, while 艺 (yì) encompasses a broader artistic and creative aspect.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 艺 with 义 (yì), which means righteousness. 艺 is more commonly used in artistic contexts, so it's essential to pair it with related words like 艺术 (yìshù - art) to convey meaning clearly. The character is generally neutral but can be used in both formal and informal settings.
HSK Study Tips
Though not at HSK levels 1-6, understanding 艺 is beneficial for learners progressing to HSK 7 and beyond, as it connects to other artistic terms. Focus on collocations like 艺术家 (yìshùjiā - artist) and explore related vocabulary to deepen your understanding of art in Chinese culture.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 艺 in contexts where 技 (jì) should be used, such as technical skills. For example, saying '我有很多艺' (wǒ yǒu hěn duō yì - I have many arts) is incorrect; it should be '我有很多技能' (wǒ yǒu hěn duō jìnéng - I have many skills).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 艺
Premium — Locked
Tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 艺, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 艺 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
How well do you know 艺?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 艺 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
艺 = 艹 + 乙. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 艺
IDS Structure⿱艹乙
艺Full character
=
艹cao3
top
乙yi3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 艺?
How to say skill in Chinese
“skill” in Chinese is艺yì
The character 艺 (yì) refers to skill or art, often encompassing a broad range of talents and crafts. It is commonly used in contexts related to artistic expressions, such as music, painting, and performance arts, as well as indicating proficiency in various skills. The nuance of this character suggests not only technical ability but also creativity and aesthetic appreciation.
When to use 艺
Be careful not to confuse 艺 with 义 (yì), which means righteousness. 艺 is more commonly used in artistic contexts, so it's essential to pair it with related words like 艺术 (yìshù - art) to convey meaning clearly. The character is generally neutral but can be used in both formal and informal settings.
艺 or something close to it
技 (jì) refers specifically to skill or technique, often in a practical or technical context, while 艺 (yì) encompasses a broader artistic and creative aspect.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 艺 in contexts where 技 (jì) should be used, such as technical skills. For example, saying '我有很多艺' (wǒ yǒu hěn duō yì - I have many arts) is incorrect; it should be '我有很多技能' (wǒ yǒu hěn duō jìnéng - I have many skills).
Write 艺
艺
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 艺 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 艺
艺 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 3 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 painting was sold for £665,000 — a record for the artist.
10
不过，缺乏的是一种内在的艺术凝聚力。
búguò， quēfá de shì yī zhǒng nèizài de yìshù níngjù lì。
What is missing, however, is an internal, artistic cohesion.
Ask Jason
Have a question about 艺?
Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.
Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
Cultural Notes for 艺
💡Did you know?
In Chinese culture, art is deeply connected to philosophy and nature. The character 艺, which also implies skill, reflects the traditional Chinese view that mastery in any art form requires both talent and practice.
Word Family of 艺
Compounds1
呓yìto talk in one's sleep; somniloquy
Words containing this character20
艺术yìshùart藝術
艺术家yìshùjiāartist藝術家
艺yìskill藝
工艺gōngyìarts and crafts工藝
文艺wényìliterature and art文藝
艺人yìrénactor藝人
艺术品yìshùpǐnart piece藝術品
手艺shǒuyìcraftmanship手藝
演艺yǎnyìperforming arts演藝
技艺jìyìskill技藝
园艺yuányìgardening園藝
玩艺wányìtoy玩藝
张艺谋zhāngyìmóuZhang Yimou (1950-), PRC film director張藝謀
工艺品gōngyìpǐnhandiwork工藝品
文艺复兴wényìfùxīngthe Renaissance文藝復興
武艺wǔyìmartial art武藝
多才多艺duōcái-duōyìmulti-talented多才多藝
艺术节yìshùjiéarts festival藝術節
演艺圈yǎnyìquānshow business演藝圈
才艺cáiyìtalent才藝
Exercise 1 of 4
Characters with 艺
What does 呓 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 艺
To improve your 艺 (yì) in Chinese, consider practicing with various art forms such as drawing, calligraphy, or music. Engaging with native speakers or joining art classes can also enhance your skills and provide feedback on your artistic expression.
艺 (yì) typically refers to art and artistic skills, while 技 (jì) refers more to technical skills or techniques. For instance, 艺 can be used to describe a painter's talent, whereas 技 is more suitable for discussing mechanical skills or proficiency in a trade.
You can use 艺 (yì) in sentences to describe someone's artistic ability or skills. For example, '他在音乐方面的艺非常高' translates to 'His skill in music is very high.' This showcases the use of 艺 to refer to talent or skill in a specific area.
艺 (yì) means art or skill in Chinese. It encompasses various forms of artistic expression and talent, such as painting, music, and performance. The character can also refer to the craft or skill someone possesses in a particular field.
While primarily associated with art, 艺 can also describe skills in other areas where creativity plays a role.
The pinyin 'yì' is pronounced with a falling tone, similar to how you would say 'ee' in English but with a downward inflection.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 艺?
Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.
A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.
