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雅 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
雅
yǎ
elegant
HSK 7, ns, 12 strokes, radical 隹, rank #4938, Very Hard
雅
yǎ
elegant, graceful, refined
HSK 7, ns, 12 strokes, radical 隹, rank #4938, Very Hard
yǎ(ya3)ya T3
1elegant
2elegant, graceful, refined
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
雅yǎ(ya3)
雅 (yǎ) refers to elegance or refinement in terms of taste, manners, or style. It is commonly used to describe art, literature, and personal demeanor that exhibit grace and sophistication. The term conveys a sense of high quality and aesthetic appeal.
Strokes12Radical隹Frequency#4938DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, elegance is highly valued, particularly in literature and art. The term 雅 is often associated with classical poetry and traditional aesthetics, which emphasize harmony and beauty.
Memory tip
Imagine a graceful swan gliding elegantly on a serene lake, embodying the essence of 雅 (yǎ). The character 雅 has a component that resembles a roof (家), symbolizing a refined home where elegance is nurtured.
Meanings of 雅
yǎ(ya3)
1elegant
2elegant, graceful, refined
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 雅 means.
About 雅
雅Simplified
12Strokes
隹Radical
地名míngcíplace name (p.n.)Part of Speech
#4938Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7
Podcast: 雅
Podcast: 雅
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AI study notes for 雅
Quick Contrast
雅 (yǎ) vs 精致 (jīngzhì) - use 雅 for elegance in a broader cultural context, while 精致 emphasizes intricate craftsmanship or detail.
Usage Notes
雅 is often used in both formal and informal contexts, depending on the subject matter. Common collocations include 雅致 (yǎzhì, refined) and 雅典 (yǎdiǎn, elegant). Be careful with the third tone; it can easily be mispronounced as the second tone, which alters the meaning.
HSK Study Tips
Although 雅 is not included in the HSK levels, it connects with other vocabulary related to aesthetics and culture, such as 美 (měi, beautiful) and 精致 (jīngzhì, exquisite). Students should focus on its usage in describing art and personal qualities.
Common Mistakes
Learners may confuse 雅 with the similar-sounding word 牙 (yá, tooth) due to tonal mistakes. For example, saying '我觉得这个房子很牙' (I think this house is very tooth) instead of '我觉得这个房子很雅' (I think this house is very elegant).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 雅
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 雅 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
雅 = 隹 + 牙. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 雅
IDS Structure⿰牙隹
雅Full character
=
牙ya2
left
隹zhui1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 雅?
How to say elegant in Chinese
“elegant” in Chinese is雅yǎ
雅 (yǎ) refers to elegance or refinement in terms of taste, manners, or style. It is commonly used to describe art, literature, and personal demeanor that exhibit grace and sophistication. The term conveys a sense of high quality and aesthetic appeal.
When to use 雅
雅 is often used in both formal and informal contexts, depending on the subject matter. Common collocations include 雅致 (yǎzhì, refined) and 雅典 (yǎdiǎn, elegant). Be careful with the third tone; it can easily be mispronounced as the second tone, which alters the meaning.
雅 or something close to it
雅 (yǎ) vs 精致 (jīngzhì) - use 雅 for elegance in a broader cultural context, while 精致 emphasizes intricate craftsmanship or detail.
What learners get wrong
Learners may confuse 雅 with the similar-sounding word 牙 (yá, tooth) due to tonal mistakes. For example, saying '我觉得这个房子很牙' (I think this house is very tooth) instead of '我觉得这个房子很雅' (I think this house is very elegant).
Write 雅
雅
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Practice writing 雅 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 雅
雅 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 2 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 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
我的确非常喜欢这里宁静幽____、不受打扰的氛围。
I do very much appreciate the quietness and privacy here.
I do very much appreciate the quietness and privacy here.
2
你不觉得她有点太附庸风雅了吗？
nǐ bù juéde tā yǒu diǎn tài fùyōng fēng yǎ le ma？
Didn't you find her a little bit too arty?
3
人们为找工作而迁移到雅加达这类城市里。
rénmen wèi zhǎo gōngzuò ér qiānyí dào yǎ jiā dá zhè lèi chéngshì lǐ。
People migrate to cities like Jakarta in search of work.
4
雅各布·辛克莱在一名士兵的手里送了命。
yǎ gè bù· Xīn kè lái zài yī míng shìbīng de shǒulǐ sòng le mìng。
Jacob Sinclair met his death at the hands of a soldier.
5
他没像平时那样优雅庄重地走着，而是几乎跑了起来。
tā méi xiàng píngshí nàyàng yōuyǎ zhuāngzhòng dì zǒu zhe， érshì jīhū pǎo le qǐlái。
Instead of moving at his usual stately pace, he was almost running.
6
他为人文雅，结交广泛。
tā wéirén wényǎ， jié jiāo guǎngfàn。
He is a cultured man with a wide circle of friends.
7
他文雅、迷人、能言善辩，是一名优秀的谈判人。
tā wényǎ、 mírén、 néng yán shàn biàn， shì yī míng yōuxiù de tánpàn rén。
He is polished, charming, articulate and an excellent negotiator.
8
他辞去了在雅典当办公室勤杂工的工作。
tā cíqù le zài yǎ diǎn dāng bàngōngshì qín zá gōng de gōngzuò。
He quit his job as an office boy in Athens.
9
他是个巴罗克式的人物，衣着华丽但又不失优雅。
tā shì gè Bā luō kè shì de rénwù， yī zhe huálì dàn yòu bù shī yōuyǎ。
He was a baroque figure dressed in theatrical, but elegant, clothes.
10
到广场饭店喝鸡尾酒是他们这个高雅时髦的圈子中的人每晚必做的事情。
dào guǎngchǎng fàndiàn hē jī wěi jiǔ shì tāmen zhège gāoyǎ shímáo de quānzi zhōng de rén měi wǎn bì zuò de shìqing。
Cocktails at the Plaza was a nightly ritual of their sophisticated world.
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Cultural Notes for 雅
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
Unlike in Western cultures where elegance might focus on fashion, in Chinese culture, it encompasses a broader range, including moral and intellectual refinement.
Word Family of 雅
Compounds1
蕥yǎ
Words containing this character20
雅yǎelegant
优雅yōuyǎgrace優雅
西雅图xīyǎtúSeattle, Washington State西雅圖
高雅gāoyǎdainty
雅虎yǎhǔYahoo, Internet portal
玛雅mǎyǎMaya (civilization)瑪雅
雅典yǎdiǎnAthens, capital of Greece
典雅diǎnyǎrefined
文雅wényǎelegant
雅致yǎzhìelegant
雅加达yǎjiādáJakarta, capital of Indonesia雅加達
大雅dàyǎTaya township in Taichung county 臺中縣|台中县[Táizhōngxiàn], Taiwan
雅克yǎkèJacques (name)
欧莱雅ōuláiyǎL'Oréal (French cosmetics company)歐萊雅
雅思yǎsīIELTS (International English Language Testing System)
淡雅dànyǎsimple and elegant
秀雅xiùyǎexquisite
雅丽yǎlìelegant雅麗
儒雅rúyǎscholarly
温文尔雅wēnwén’ěryǎcultured and refined (idiom); gentle and cultivated溫文爾雅
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 雅
What does 优雅 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 雅
Synonyms include 精致 (jīngzhì, exquisite) and 高雅 (gāoyǎ, lofty and elegant).
You can say, '这幅画很雅,' meaning 'This painting is very elegant.'
雅 is more commonly found in writing, particularly in literary contexts, but can also be used in formal speaking.
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