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遗 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
遗
yí
to lose
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)yi 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
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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.
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.
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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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.
When to use 遗
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.
遗 or something close to it
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.
What learners get wrong
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').
Write 遗
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.
Ex-cavations have revealed Roman and Anglo-Saxon remains in the area.
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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yílòuto 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yíshūtestament遺書
遗言yíyánwords of the deceased遺言
后遗症hòuyízhèng(medicine) sequelae後遺症
遗迹yíjìtrace遺跡
遗物yíwùremnant遺物
不遗余力bùyíyúlìto spare no pains or effort (idiom); to do one's utmost不遺餘力
遗孀yíshuāngwidow遺孀
遗愿yíyuànfinal wishes of the departed遺願
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 遗
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.
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