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倚 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
倚yǐto rely on, to depend onHSK 7, zg, 10 strokes, radical 亻, rank #26089, Hard
倚yǐto lean onHSK 7, unknown, 10 strokes, radical 亻, rank #26089, Hard
倚yǐto rely uponHSK 7, unknown, 10 strokes, radical 亻, rank #26089, Hard
yǐ(yi3) T3
  1. 1to rely on, to depend on
  2. 2to lean on
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
倚yǐ(yi3)

The character 倚 (yǐ) means to rely on or depend on something or someone. It can also imply a physical action of leaning against an object for support. This term is commonly used in both literal and metaphorical contexts, such as relying on friends or leaning against a wall.

Strokes10Radical亻Frequency#26089DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

The concept of reliance is significant in Chinese culture, highlighting the importance of interpersonal relationships and support systems, often reflected in sayings and proverbs about friendship and family.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person leaning against a sturdy tree for support. The left side of the character 倚 resembles a person leaning (亻) while the right side (衣) reminds you of a coat or clothing that one might wear while leaning. Think of 'leaning on your coat' to remember the pronunciation 'yǐ'.

Meanings of 倚

yǐ(yi3)
1to rely on, to depend on
2to lean on
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 倚

倚Simplified
10Strokes
亻Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 倚

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Podcast: 倚

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 倚

Quick Contrast

依 (yī) vs 倚 (yǐ): Use 依 when implying a more general reliance or dependence, while 倚 emphasizes a physical leaning or support.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a person leaning against a sturdy tree for support. The left side of the character 倚 resembles a person leaning (亻) while the right side (衣) reminds you of a coat or clothing that one might wear while leaning. Think of 'leaning on your coat' to remember the pronunciation 'yǐ'.

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include confusing 倚 with other similar-sounding characters like 义 (yì) which means righteousness. Since 倚 is somewhat formal, it's often used in written Chinese rather than casual conversations. Be mindful of the tone; using the wrong tone can change the meaning entirely.

HSK Study Tips

While 倚 is not included in the official HSK levels, it is a useful word for advanced learners to express dependence and support. Students should focus on recognizing it in context, especially in literature or formal discussions, as it may appear in descriptions of relationships.

Cultural Note

The concept of reliance is significant in Chinese culture, highlighting the importance of interpersonal relationships and support systems, often reflected in sayings and proverbs about friendship and family.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mispronounce 倚 by using the wrong tone, saying 'yi' instead of 'yǐ'. Additionally, some might confuse it with 依 (yī) which means to depend on but is less about physical leaning.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 倚

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Etymology of 倚

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 亻 represents the meaning and 奇 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

person

Semantic (meaning)亻
+
Phonetic (sound)奇
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 倚?

Decomposition of 倚

IDS Structure⿰亻奇
倚Full Character
=
亻ren2
left
奇ji1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 倚?

Write 倚

倚

Practice writing 倚 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 倚

倚 carries 3 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

丹尼尔____在沙发上，嘴里还在嚼着苹果。

Daniel leaned back on the sofa, still chewing on his apple.

Example Sentences for 倚 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
丹尼尔倚在沙发上，嘴里还在嚼着苹果。

dān ní ěr yǐ zài shā fā shàng， ， zuǐ lǐ huán zài jiáo zháo píng。

Daniel leaned back on the sofa, still chewing on his apple.
2
拉梅什把椅背调低，倚在上面吸烟。

lā méi shí bǎ yǐ bèi tiáo dī， ， yǐ zài shàng miàn xī。

Ramesh had reclined his seat and was lying back smoking.
3
作为检察官，我们对经手的案件会尽力做到不偏不倚。

zuò wéi jiǎn chá guān， ， wǒ mén duì jīng shǒu de àn jiàn huì jìn lì zuò dào bù piān bù。

We, as prosecutors, try to be dispassionate about the cases we bring.
4
艾伯特高兴地向后倚靠，点了根香烟。

ài bó tè gāo xīng dì xiàng hòu yǐ kào， ， diǎn le gēn xiāng。

Albert leaned back happily and lit a cigarette.
5
她倚靠在门上，大口喘着气。

tā yǐ kào zài mén shàng， ， dà kǒu chuǎn zháo。

Gasping for breath, she leaned against the door.
6
丁香树倚着边墙生长。

dīng xiāng shù yǐ zháo biān qiáng shēng cháng。

Lilacs grew against the side wall.
7
上校倚仗权势让他的中士划船划了一路。

shàng xiào yǐ zhàng quán shì ràng tā de zhōng shì huá chuán huá le yī lù。

The Captain pulled rank and made his sergeant row the entire way.
8
他倚在那棵树上.

tā yǐ zài nà kē shù shàng.

He leaned against the tree.
9
我们把这些竿子斜倚在墙上.

wǒ mén bǎ zhè xiē gān zǐ xié yǐ zài qiáng shàng.

We leaned the poles back against the wall.
10
迈克尔倚着乔恩，踉踉跄跄地走到浴室。

mài kè ěr yǐ zháo qiáo ēn， ， liáng liáng qiāng qiāng dì zǒu dào yù。

Leaning on Jon, Michael took faltering steps to the bathroom.

Cultural Notes for 倚

🏮Cultural insight

The concept of reliance is significant in Chinese culture, highlighting the importance of interpersonal relationships and support systems, often reflected in sayings and proverbs about friendship and family.

Word Family of 倚

Words Containing This Character10
倚yǐto lean on
倚靠to lean on
不偏不倚even-handed
倚重to rely heavily upon
倚仗to lean on
倚赖to rely on倚賴
偏倚to favor
倚托to rely upon
凭倚to rely on憑倚
无倚无靠orphaned無倚無靠
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 倚 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 倚

Synonyms include 依赖 (yīlài) which also means to rely on, and 借助 (jièzhù) meaning to borrow help from.