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薏 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
薏yìlotus seed; the seed of the Job's tear plantn, 16 strokes, radical 艹, rank #33227, Very Hard
yì(yi4)yi T4
  1. 1lotus seed; the seed of the Job's tear plant
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March 24, 2026

薏yì(yi4)

The character 薏 (yì) refers to the seed of the Job's tear plant, which is often used in traditional Chinese medicine and cooking. It is particularly valued for its health benefits, including diuretic properties and nourishing effects on the skin. Commonly found in soups and desserts, this ingredient is a staple in certain regional cuisines.

Strokes16Radical艹Frequency#33227DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese medicine, 薏 is recognized for its health benefits, particularly for promoting digestion and clearing heat. It is often included in health tonics and is a popular ingredient in summer desserts to help cool the body.

Memory Tip

Imagine a young girl named Yi (yì) gathering lotus seeds by a serene pond. The character 薏 looks like a plant with leaves (the radical 艹) and seeds, linking it visually to the idea of nature and nourishment. Picture her cooking these seeds into a warm soup, reinforcing the connection to health and wellness.

Meanings of 薏

yì(yi4)
1lotus seed; the seed of the Job's tear plant
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 薏

薏Simplified
16Strokes
艹Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 薏

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Podcast: 薏

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AI Study Notes for 薏

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the pronunciation, as tone mistakes can change meaning. 薏 is a less common term in everyday conversation, so use it within culinary or health contexts. Common collocations include 薏米 (yì mǐ, Job's tears) and 薏苡 (yì yǐ, another name for the same seed).

HSK Study Tips

While 薏 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it connects to HSK level 4 words related to health and food. Focus on understanding its uses in traditional medicine and cooking to enhance your vocabulary in these areas.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 薏 with similar-sounding characters like 意 (yì, meaning 'meaning') due to tonal errors. Always remember that 薏 has a specific pronunciation with a falling tone, yì.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 薏

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Etymology of 薏

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

plant

Semantic (meaning)艹
+
Phonetic (sound)意
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

薏 = 艹 + 意. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 薏

IDS Structure⿱艹意
薏Full Character
=
艹cao3
top
意Yi4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 薏?

How to say lotus seed; the seed of the Job's tear plant in Chinese

“lotus seed; the seed of the Job's tear plant” in Chinese is薏yì

The character 薏 (yì) refers to the seed of the Job's tear plant, which is often used in traditional Chinese medicine and cooking. It is particularly valued for its health benefits, including diuretic properties and nourishing effects on the skin. Commonly found in soups and desserts, this ingredient is a staple in certain regional cuisines.

When to use 薏

Be cautious with the pronunciation, as tone mistakes can change meaning. 薏 is a less common term in everyday conversation, so use it within culinary or health contexts. Common collocations include 薏米 (yì mǐ, Job's tears) and 薏苡 (yì yǐ, another name for the same seed).

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 薏 with similar-sounding characters like 意 (yì, meaning 'meaning') due to tonal errors. Always remember that 薏 has a specific pronunciation with a falling tone, yì.

Write 薏

薏

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

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Word Family of 薏

Words Containing This Character3
薏yìChinese pearl barley
薏米grains of Job's tears plant 薏苡[yì​yǐ]
薏苡Chinese pearl barley
Exercise 1 of 2

Words with 薏

What does 薏米 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 薏

薏 is commonly used in soups and sweet dishes, particularly for its health benefits and soothing properties.

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