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谊 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
friendshipHSK 4, ng, 10 strokes, radical 讠, rank #62904, Very Hard
also pr. [yí]HSK 4, ng, 10 strokes, radical 讠, rank #62904, Very Hard
friendship; appropriate, suitableHSK 4, ng, 10 strokes, radical 讠, rank #62904, Very Hard
also pr. [yi2]HSK 4, unknown, 10 strokes, radical 讠, rank #62904, Very Hard
(yi4) T4
  1. 1friendship
  2. 2also pr. [yí]
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
(誼)(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.

Strokes10RadicalFrequency#62904DifficultyVery Hard
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

(yi4)
1friendship
2also pr. [yí]
Exercise 1 of 3

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 谊

Simplified
Traditional
10Strokes
Radical
名语素míngcínoun root (n.root)Part of Speech
#62904Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L4

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.

Memory Mnemonic

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.

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.

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.

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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Etymology of 谊

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

Fitting 宜 speech 讠; 宜 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 谊?

Decomposition of 谊

IDS Structure⿰讠宜
Full Character
=
yan2
left
Yi2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 谊?

Write 谊

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

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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.

Exercise 1 of 1

Complete the Sentence

冰情雪韵中同享冰城瑰丽之冬色, 和谐世界里共抒深情厚____之情怀.

Enjoy beauty of winter of ice city, enjoy friendship of harmonious world.

Common Confusions with 谊

vs

Same pronunciation but different meaning.

vs

Similar sound and related meaning.

Exercise 1 of 1

Spot the Difference

Which character means "friendship"?

or

Example Sentences for 谊 (1)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
冰情雪韵中同享冰城瑰丽之冬色, 和谐世界里共抒深情厚谊之情怀.

bīng qíng xuě yùn zhōng tóng xiǎng bīng chéng guī lì zhī dōng sè, , hé xié shì jiè lǐ gòng shū shēn qíng hòu yì zhī qíng.

Enjoy beauty of winter of ice city, enjoy friendship of harmonious world.

Cultural Notes for 谊

🏮Cultural insight

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.

Word Family of 谊

Words Containing This Character16
友谊yǒuyìcompanionship友誼
联谊会club聯誼會
情谊qíngyìfriendship情誼
联谊friendship聯誼
友谊赛friendly match友誼賽
交谊舞social dance交誼舞
friendship
深情厚谊shēnqínghòuyìdeep friendship深情厚誼
交谊association交誼
贾谊Jia Yi (200-168 BC), Chinese poet and statesman of the Western Han Dynasty賈誼
友谊商店Friendship 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generous friendship厚誼
友谊县Youyi county in Shuangyashan 雙鴨山|双鸭山[Shuāng​yā​shān], Heilongjiang友誼縣
隆情厚谊profound love, generous friendship (idiom)隆情厚誼
戚谊relation戚誼
睦谊cordiality睦誼
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 友谊 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 谊

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.