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英 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
英
Yīng
British
j, 8 strokes, radical 艹, rank #4121, Hard
英
Yīng
England
j, 8 strokes, radical 艹, rank #4121, Hard
英
Yīng
English
j, 8 strokes, radical 艹, rank #4121, Hard
英
Yīng
brave
j, 8 strokes, radical 艹, rank #4121, Hard
英
Yīng
petal, flower, leaf; brave, heroic; English
j, 8 strokes, radical 艹, rank #4121, Hard
英
Yīng
United Kingdom
j, 8 strokes, radical 艹, rank #4121, Hard
英
Yīng
abbr. for 英國
j, 8 strokes, radical 艹, rank #4121, Hard
英
Yīng
abbr. for 英國|英国[Ying1 guo2]
unknown, 8 strokes, radical 艹, rank #4121, Hard
Yīng(Ying1)ying T1
1British
2England
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
英Yīng(Ying1)
The character 英 (Yīng) primarily refers to England or the United Kingdom, and is commonly used to denote anything British or English. Additionally, it can express qualities such as bravery or heroism, making it versatile in both geographic and descriptive contexts.
Strokes8Radical艹Frequency#4121DifficultyHard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the character 英 is often associated with the idea of heroism, reflecting the admiration for brave figures in history, such as military leaders. This cultural reverence influences its use in modern contexts.
Memory tip
Think of 英 (Yīng) as a brave knight (the 'Ying' sounds like 'ing') in England, holding a flag with the English rose on it. The character has the radical for 'hero' and evokes imagery of valor and petals, linking bravery with beauty.
Meanings of 英
Yīng(Ying1)
1British
2England
Exercise 1 of 3
By ear
Play it, then pick what 英 means.
About 英
英Simplified
8Strokes
艹Radical
简称abbreviation (abbr.)Part of Speech
#4121Frequency Rank
Podcast: 英
Podcast: 英
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AI study notes for 英
Quick Contrast
英 (Yīng) vs 英雄 (yīngxióng) — use 英 for British-related contexts and 英雄 specifically for the concept of a hero.
Usage Notes
英 is often used in compound words, such as 英國 (Yīngguó, meaning 'United Kingdom') and 英文 (Yīngwén, meaning 'English language'). Common mistakes include confusing it with the similar-sounding characters; always check context to ensure correct usage.
HSK Study Tips
Though 英 is not part of the official HSK levels, it connects with vocabulary related to countries and languages, which are important for beginner learners. Focus on its use in phrases that indicate nationality or language.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 英 with other characters that have similar sounds, such as 应 (Yīng, meaning 'should'). For example, mistakenly using 英国 (Yīngguó) when one means to say 应该 (Yīnggāi, meaning 'should') is a common error.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 英
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 英 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.
英 = 艹 + 央. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 英
IDS Structure⿱艹央
英Full character
=
艹cao3
top
央yang1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 英?
How to say British in Chinese
“British” in Chinese is英Yīng
The character 英 (Yīng) primarily refers to England or the United Kingdom, and is commonly used to denote anything British or English. Additionally, it can express qualities such as bravery or heroism, making it versatile in both geographic and descriptive contexts.
When to use 英
英 is often used in compound words, such as 英國 (Yīngguó, meaning 'United Kingdom') and 英文 (Yīngwén, meaning 'English language'). Common mistakes include confusing it with the similar-sounding characters; always check context to ensure correct usage.
英 or something close to it
英 (Yīng) vs 英雄 (yīngxióng) — use 英 for British-related contexts and 英雄 specifically for the concept of a hero.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 英 with other characters that have similar sounds, such as 应 (Yīng, meaning 'should'). For example, mistakenly using 英国 (Yīngguó) when one means to say 应该 (Yīnggāi, meaning 'should') is a common error.
Write 英
英
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Practice writing 英 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 英
英 carries 8 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
马英九mǎyīngjiǔMa Ying-jeou (1950-), Taiwanese Kuomintang politician, Mayor of Taipei 1998-2006, president of Republic of China 2008-2016馬英九
英国人yīngguórénBritish person英國人
英明yīngmíngwise
英亩yīngmǔacre英畝
美英měiyīngUS and UK
中英zhōngyīngSino-British
Exercise 1 of 4
Characters with 英
What does 瑛 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 英
英 (yīng) is a character that means 'England' or 'British', while 英国 (Yīngguó) specifically refers to the 'United Kingdom.' In essence, 英 is a part of the word that describes the country, while 英国 denotes the nation as a whole.
Yes, 英 is commonly used in everyday conversation, especially when discussing topics related to England or the English language. It's frequently encountered in educational contexts, travel discussions, and cultural references.
英 (yīng) refers to England and can be used to describe something as British or English. It's commonly seen in words like 英国 (Yīngguó), which means 'United Kingdom'. The character also conveys a sense of excellence or heroism in certain contexts.
You can use 英 (yīng) in sentences like '我想去英国旅行' (Wǒ xiǎng qù Yīngguó lǚxíng), which means 'I want to travel to England.' It can also be used in combinations like 英文 (Yīngwén), meaning 'English language.'
In addition to signifying England, 英 also refers to the English language, as in 英文 (Yīngwén).
You might hear it in discussions about travel, culture, or when referring to English-speaking individuals.
No, it can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it's essential to use it appropriately depending on the topic.
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