Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
椅yǐ(yi3)
The character 椅 (yǐ) refers to a chair or seat, typically used for sitting. This term is commonly encountered in contexts related to furniture, seating arrangements, and discussions about comfort or interior design.
Strokes12Radical木Frequency#9830DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, the type of chair can signify status and role in social gatherings, with certain chairs used in formal settings like tea ceremonies. The design of chairs may also reflect the aesthetics of Chinese craftsmanship.
Memory Tip
Imagine a chair (椅) made from a tree (木). The character has the tree radical (木) on the left, suggesting it's made of wood. You can remember 'yǐ' by thinking of 'you' sitting on this wooden chair.
Meanings of 椅
yǐ(yi3)
1chair
2chair, seat
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 椅
椅Simplified
12Strokes
木Radical
名语素míngcínoun root (n.root)Part of Speech
#9830Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L1
Podcast: 椅
Podcast: 椅
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 椅
Quick Contrast
椅 (chair) vs 沙发 (sofa) — use 椅 when referring specifically to a chair, while 沙发 indicates a larger seating option for multiple people.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 椅 with other similar characters like 桌 (zhuō), which means table. The word is generally informal, but can be used in various settings, including homes and offices. Common collocations include 椅子 (yǐzi), meaning 'chair'.
HSK Study Tips
Though not explicitly categorized in HSK levels, 椅 is useful for HSK 2 learners who are expanding their vocabulary related to furniture. Students should focus on recognizing similar characters and their radicals.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 椅子 (yǐzi) in formal contexts when 椅 (yǐ) is more appropriate. For example, saying '我坐在椅子上' (Wǒ zuò zài yǐzi shàng) instead of '我坐在椅上' can sound overly casual.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 椅
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 椅 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Phonosemantic compound. 木 represents the meaning and 奇 represents the sound.
1The meaning half木 carries the sense.
2The sound half奇 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaywood
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 椅? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 椅?
Decomposition of 椅
IDS Structure⿰木奇
椅Full Character
=
木Mu4
left
奇ji1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 椅?
How to say chair in Chinese
“chair” in Chinese is椅yǐ
The character 椅 (yǐ) refers to a chair or seat, typically used for sitting. This term is commonly encountered in contexts related to furniture, seating arrangements, and discussions about comfort or interior design.
When to use 椅
Be careful not to confuse 椅 with other similar characters like 桌 (zhuō), which means table. The word is generally informal, but can be used in various settings, including homes and offices. Common collocations include 椅子 (yǐzi), meaning 'chair'.
椅 or something close to it
椅 (chair) vs 沙发 (sofa) — use 椅 when referring specifically to a chair, while 沙发 indicates a larger seating option for multiple people.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 椅子 (yǐzi) in formal contexts when 椅 (yǐ) is more appropriate. For example, saying '我坐在椅子上' (Wǒ zuò zài yǐzi shàng) instead of '我坐在椅上' can sound overly casual.
Write 椅
椅
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 椅 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 椅
椅 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.
