HSK 5, n, 12 strokes, radical 辶, rank #15743, Hard
遗
yí
to leave behind
HSK 5, n, 12 strokes, radical 辶, rank #15743, Hard
遗
yí
to omit
HSK 5, n, 12 strokes, radical 辶, rank #15743, Hard
遗
yí
to bequeath
HSK 5, n, 12 strokes, radical 辶, rank #15743, Hard
遗
yí
sth lost
HSK 5, n, 12 strokes, radical 辶, rank #15743, Hard
遗
yí
involuntary discharge (of urine etc)
HSK 5, n, 12 strokes, radical 辶, rank #15743, Hard
遗
yí
to lose; a lost article
HSK 5, n, 12 strokes, radical 辶, rank #15743, Hard
yí(yi2) T2
1to lose
2to leave behind
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March 24, 2026
遗(遺)yí(yi2)
The character 遗 (yí) primarily means 'to lose' or 'to leave behind.' It is often used in contexts related to loss, omission, or inheritance, such as when discussing something that has been left behind or passed down. The nuance can vary depending on whether it refers to physical objects or intangible concepts like responsibilities.
Strokes12Radical辶Frequency#15743DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, discussions of inheritance (遗产) are significant due to Confucian values surrounding family and legacy. The concept of遗 often appears in the context of bequeathing property or responsibilities to the next generation.
Memory Tip
Imagine a lost item, like a treasured possession, that you 'forget' to take with you. The left part of the character, 遗, resembles a person walking away, leaving something behind, while the right part can be visualized as a path or road. Together, they tell the story of something lost on a journey.
Meanings of 遗
yí(yi2)
1to lose
2to leave behind
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 遗
遗Simplified
遺Traditional
12Strokes
辶Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#15743Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5
Podcast: 遗
Podcast: 遗
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AI Study Notes for 遗
Quick Contrast
遗 (yí) vs 丢 (diū) — use 遗 for loss with a sense of leaving behind or inheritance, while 丢 focuses on the act of misplacing or dropping something.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a lost item, like a treasured possession, that you 'forget' to take with you. The left part of the character, 遗, resembles a person walking away, leaving something behind, while the right part can be visualized as a path or road. Together, they tell the story of something lost on a journey.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 遗 (yí), as it uses the second tone, which can be easily confused with the first tone (yī). Common collocations include 遗失 (yíshī, to lose) and 遗产 (yíchǎn, inheritance). This term is more formal than everyday slang for losing something.
HSK Study Tips
While 遗 is not included in the HSK levels, it is essential for students to recognize its connection to words related to loss and inheritance, like 遗产 (inheritance). Focus on understanding its usage in legal or formal contexts.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, discussions of inheritance (遗产) are significant due to Confucian values surrounding family and legacy. The concept of遗 often appears in the context of bequeathing property or responsibilities to the next generation.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 遗 (yí) with 义 (yì, meaning righteousness) due to similar pronunciation. A common mistake is to say '我遗了我的书' instead of '我丢了我的书' (Wǒ diūle wǒ de shū, 'I lost my book').
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 遗
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Grammar Patterns of 遗
遗 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 7 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 character '遗' is often used in legal contexts, especially related to inheritance and bequeathal.
1
遗嘱
will (legal document)
Confusion with Similar CharactersCommon Error
Be careful not to confuse '遗' with '宜' (yí), which means 'should' or 'suitable'.
1
请遵守遗嘱。
Please comply with the will.
Exercise 1 of 1
Fill in the Blank
____嘱
will (legal document)
Example Sentences for 遗 (10)
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1
“把她从你的遗嘱中删去，”他的侄子催促道。
“ “ bǎ tā cóng nǐ de yí zhǔ zhōng shān，” qù ，” tā de zhí zǐ cuī。
"Cut her out of your will," urged his nephew.
2
遗憾的是，过于简单的情节使得这部电影差强人意。
yí hàn de shì， ， guò yú jiǎn dān de qíng jié shǐ dé zhè bù diàn yǐng chà qiáng rén。
Sadly, the film is let down by an excessively simple plot.
3
问题是要保护遗址免受房地产开发商的侵占。
wèn tí shì yào bǎo hù yí zhǐ miǎn shòu fáng dì chǎn kāi fā shāng de qīn zhān。
The problem was to safeguard sites from encroachment by property development.
4
遗憾的是，这个快乐的故事结局却比较伤感。
yí hàn de shì， ， zhè gè kuài lè de gù shì jié jú què bǐ jiào shāng。
Unfortunately, this happy story finishes on a more sombre note.
5
导游简要地介绍了那个遗址的历史。
dǎo yóu jiǎn yào dì jiè shào le nà gè yí zhǐ de lì shǐ。
A guide gives a brief talk on the history of the site.
6
湿疹是一种常见的皮肤病，通常具遗传性。
shī zhěn shì yī zhǒng cháng jiàn de pí fū bìng， ， tōng cháng jù yí chuán。
Eczema is a common skin complaint which often runs in families.
7
“恐怕他生病了。”——“真是遗憾。”
“ “ kǒng pà tā shēng bìng。”——“ le 。”——“ zhēn shì。”
"I'm afraid he's ill." — "I'm sorry to hear that."
8
这一遗迹在德鲁伊特来到不列颠前就已存在。
zhè yī yí jì zài dé lǔ yī tè lái dào bù liè diān qián jiù yǐ cún zài。
The monument predates the arrival of the druids in Britain.
9
作为食品配给制的一种遗留影响，他们总把黄油和人造黄油混在一起吃。
zuò wéi shí pǐn pèi gěi zhì de yī zhǒng yí liú yǐng xiǎng， ， tā mén zǒng bǎ huáng yóu hé rén zào huáng yóu hùn zài yī qǐ。
As a hangover from rationing, they mixed butter and margarine.
10
挖掘工作已显示在该地区有罗马和盎格鲁-撒克逊时代的遗迹。
wā jué gōng zuò yǐ xiǎn shì zài gāi dì qū yǒu luó mǎ hé àng gé lǔ- - sā kè xùn shí dài de yí。
Ex-cavations have revealed Roman and Anglo-Saxon remains in the area.
Cultural Notes for 遗
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, discussions of inheritance (遗产) are significant due to Confucian values surrounding family and legacy. The concept of遗 often appears in the context of bequeathing property or responsibilities to the next generation.
Word Family of 遗
Words Containing This Character20
遗憾yíhànregret遺憾
遗产yíchǎnheritage遺產
遗传yíchuánheredity遺傳
遗忘yíwàngto forget遺忘
遗嘱yízhǔwill遺囑
遗体yítǐremains (of a dead person)遺體
遗址yízhǐruins遺址
遗漏to overlook遺漏
遗弃yíqìto leave遺棄
遗失yíshīto lose遺失
遗留yíliúto leave behind遺留
遗yíto lose遺
遗书testament遺書
遗言words of the deceased遺言
后遗症hòuyízhèng(medicine) sequelae後遺症
遗迹trace遺跡
遗物yíwùremnant遺物
不遗余力to spare no pains or effort (idiom); to do one's utmost不遺餘力
遗孀widow遺孀
遗愿yíyuànfinal wishes of the departed遺願
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 遗憾 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 遗
The character 遗 (yí) typically conveys a sense of leaving something behind or bequeathing, while 丢 (diū) specifically means 'to lose' or 'to throw away'. 遗 is often used in more formal contexts, such as legal or inheritance matters, while 丢 is more commonly used in everyday situations.
To use 遗 in a sentence, you might say, '我遗忘了我的书' (Wǒ yíwàngle wǒ de shū), which means 'I lost my book'. Another example could be, '他遗留了一些遗产给子孙' (Tā yíliúle yīxiē yíchǎn gěi zǐsūn), meaning 'He left behind some inheritance for his descendants'. This demonstrates the versatility of the character in different contexts.
遗 (yí) means 'to lose', 'to leave behind', or 'to omit'. It can also refer to something that is lost or something that is bequeathed, such as in the context of inheritance. Additionally, it can describe an involuntary discharge, as in medical terminology.
You can say '我遗忘了我的钥匙' (Wǒ yíwàngle wǒ de yàoshi), meaning 'I forgot my keys.'
遗 emphasizes leaving something behind, while 损失 (sǔnshī) focuses on the loss itself, often implying a negative impact.
It is typically used in more formal contexts, so using simpler terms like 丢 (diū, to lose) might be more appropriate in casual conversation.
