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谊 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
谊
yì
friendship
HSK 4, ng, 10 strokes, radical 讠, rank #62904, Medium
谊
yì
also pr. [yí]
HSK 4, ng, 10 strokes, radical 讠, rank #62904, Medium
谊
yì
friendship; appropriate, suitable
HSK 4, ng, 10 strokes, radical 讠, rank #62904, Medium
谊
yì
also pr. [yi2]
HSK 4, unknown, 10 strokes, radical 讠, rank #62904, Medium
yì(yi4)yi T4
1friendship
2also pr. [yí]
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March 24, 2026
谊(誼)yì(yi4)
The character 谊 (yì) primarily means 'friendship' and is often used in contexts related to bonds between people. It can also imply appropriateness or suitability in certain situations, though this usage is less common. You'll encounter it in phrases that emphasize the importance of friendship in Chinese culture.
Strokes10Radical讠Frequency#62904DifficultyMedium
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, friendship is highly valued, often emphasized in literature and proverbs. The concept of friendship (友谊) is not just a personal connection but also reflects social harmony and mutual support.
Memory tip
Imagine the character 谊 as a friend (represented by 友 - yǒu, meaning 'friend') getting together over a meal (represented by the radical 食 - shí), emphasizing the idea of bonding through shared experiences. The 'yì' sound can remind you of a cheerful 'Yay!' when friends meet.
Meanings of 谊
yì(yi4)
1friendship
2also pr. [yí]
Exercise 1 of 3
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About 谊
谊Simplified
誼Traditional
10Strokes
讠Radical
名语素míngcínoun root (n.root)Part of Speech
#62904Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L4
Podcast: 谊
Podcast: 谊
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AI study notes for 谊
Quick Contrast
交 (jiāo) - use 谊 when emphasizing a deeper bond of friendship, while 交 refers more to the act of making friends or socializing.
Usage Notes
This character is typically used in formal or literary contexts rather than casual conversation. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words, especially in tonal usage; the correct tone is 'yì' (4th tone). Common collocations include 友谊 (yǒuyì - friendship) and 亲密的友谊 (qīnmì de yǒuyì - close friendship).
HSK Study Tips
While 谊 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary list, it connects to HSK level 4 words related to emotions and relationships, such as 朋友 (péngyǒu - friend) and 关系 (guānxi - relationship). Students should focus on the context in which friendship is discussed in Chinese culture.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 谊 with 义 (yì - righteousness) due to similar pronunciation. For example, saying '我很义你的朋友' (Wǒ hěn yì nǐ de péngyǒu) instead of '我很谊你的朋友' (Wǒ hěn yì nǐ de péngyǒu) is incorrect; use '谊' when referring to friendship.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 谊
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The character 谊 (yì) primarily means 'friendship' and is often used in contexts related to bonds between people. It can also imply appropriateness or suitability in certain situations, though this usage is less common. You'll encounter it in phrases that emphasize the importance of friendship in Chinese culture.
When to use 谊
This character is typically used in formal or literary contexts rather than casual conversation. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words, especially in tonal usage; the correct tone is 'yì' (4th tone). Common collocations include 友谊 (yǒuyì - friendship) and 亲密的友谊 (qīnmì de yǒuyì - close friendship).
谊 or something close to it
交 (jiāo) - use 谊 when emphasizing a deeper bond of friendship, while 交 refers more to the act of making friends or socializing.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 谊 with 义 (yì - righteousness) due to similar pronunciation. For example, saying '我很义你的朋友' (Wǒ hěn yì nǐ de péngyǒu) instead of '我很谊你的朋友' (Wǒ hěn yì nǐ de péngyǒu) is incorrect; use '谊' when referring to friendship.
Write 谊
谊
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Grammar patterns of 谊
谊 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 4 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.
Enjoy beauty of winter of ice city, enjoy friendship of harmonious world.
2
我们之间的友谊非常珍贵。
Wǒmen zhījiān de yǒuyì fēicháng zhēnguì.
The friendship between us is very precious.
3
在学校里，我找到了许多友谊。
Zài xuéxiào lǐ, wǒ zhǎodào le xǔduō yǒuyì.
I found a lot of friendships at school.
4
我们的友谊经历了很多考验。
Wǒmen de yǒuyì jīnglì le hěn duō kǎoyàn.
Our friendship has gone through many tests.
5
旅行加深了我们之间的友谊。
Lǚxíng jiāshēnle wǒmen zhījiān de yǒuyì.
Traveling deepened the friendship between us.
6
在这次活动中，我们建立了深厚的友情和谊。
Zài zhè cì huó dòng zhōng, wǒmen jiàn lì le shēn hòu de yǒu qíng hé yì.
During this event, we established a deep friendship.
7
他们的谊在多年后依然如初。
Tāmen de yì zài duō nián hòu yī rán rú chū.
Their friendship remained unchanged even after many years.
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Word Family of 谊
Words containing this character16
友谊yǒuyìcompanionship友誼
联谊会liányìhuìclub聯誼會
情谊qíngyìfriendship情誼
联谊liányìfriendship聯誼
友谊赛yǒuyìsàifriendly match友誼賽
交谊舞jiāoyìwǔsocial dance交誼舞
谊yìfriendship誼
深情厚谊shēnqínghòuyìdeep friendship深情厚誼
交谊jiāoyìassociation交誼
贾谊jiǎyìJia Yi (200-168 BC), Chinese poet and statesman of the Western Han Dynasty賈誼
友谊商店yǒuyìshāngdiànFriendship Store, PRC state-run store originally intended for foreigners, diplomats etc, specializing in selling imported Western goods and quality Chinese crafts友誼商店
厚谊hòuyìgenerous friendship厚誼
友谊县yǒuyìxiànYouyi county in Shuangyashan 雙鴨山|双鸭山[Shuāngyāshān], Heilongjiang友誼縣
Yes, 谊 is used in modern Chinese, particularly in literary or formal contexts. While it may not be as common in everyday speech, it still conveys a meaningful concept of friendship that resonates in various expressions.
Some synonyms for 谊 include 友谊 (yǒuyì), which also means 'friendship,' and 情谊 (qíngyì), meaning 'emotional bond.' These terms can be used interchangeably in many contexts to describe relationships.
谊 (yì) means 'friendship' in Chinese. It is used to express a bond or connection between friends. The character can also suggest appropriateness or suitability in certain contexts.
You can use 谊 in a sentence to describe relationships or connections, such as '我们之间有深厚的谊' (Wǒmen zhī jiān yǒu shēnhòu de yì), meaning 'We have a deep friendship.' It emphasizes the emotional bond between individuals.
It is pronounced as 'yì' with a falling tone.
It's more commonly found in written or formal contexts; everyday conversation often uses 朋友 instead.
Common phrases include 友谊 (yǒuyì - friendship) and 亲密的友谊 (qīnmì de yǒuyì - close friendship).
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