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謁 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
謁yèto visit, to pay respectsx, 16 strokes, radical 言
yè(ye4) T4
  1. 1to visit, to pay respects
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March 24, 2026

謁yè(ye4)

The character 謁 (yè) means to visit or to pay respects, often in a formal context, such as visiting someone of higher status or authority. It is frequently used in official or ceremonial situations, reflecting a sense of respect and deference toward the person being visited.

Strokes16Radical言
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, paying respects through visits, especially during important occasions like Chinese New Year or festivals, is a vital way to maintain relationships and show honor to elders or authority figures.

Memory Tip

Imagine a formal visit where one bows deeply, showing respect. The character 謁 features the speech radical 言, suggesting communication or addressing someone, combined with the character for a 'meeting' or 'visit' which resembles a person (亻) engaging respectfully with another.

Meanings of 謁

yè(ye4)
1to visit, to pay respects
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 謁 means.

About 謁

謁Simplified
16Strokes
言Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 謁

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Podcast: 謁

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AI Study Notes for 謁

Usage Notes

This character is typically used in more formal contexts, so it's less common in everyday conversation. Learners might mistakenly use it in casual settings. Common collocations include 謁見 (yèjiàn, 'to pay a visit') and 謁訪 (yèfǎng, 'to pay respects').

HSK Study Tips

Though 謁 is not included in HSK levels, it connects to other HSK vocabulary related to respect and formal interactions, such as 敬 (jìng, 'to respect'). Students should focus on understanding the formalities surrounding visits in Chinese culture.

Common Mistakes

Learners may confuse 謁 with the more casual 拜訪 (bàifǎng), using 謁 in informal contexts. For example, saying '我今天要謁朋友' (Wǒ jīntiān yào yè péngyǒu) is incorrect; it should be '我今天要拜訪朋友' (Wǒ jīntiān yào bàifǎng péngyǒu).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 謁

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Etymology of 謁

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

Phonosemantic compound. 讠 represents the meaning and 曷 represents the sound. Simplified form of 謁.

Memory Hint

speech

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

Origin

謁 = 言 + 曷. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 謁

IDS Structure⿰言曷
謁Full Character
=
言yan2
left
曷he2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 謁?

How to say to visit, to pay respects in Chinese

“to visit, to pay respects” in Chinese is謁yè

The character 謁 (yè) means to visit or to pay respects, often in a formal context, such as visiting someone of higher status or authority. It is frequently used in official or ceremonial situations, reflecting a sense of respect and deference toward the person being visited.

When to use 謁

This character is typically used in more formal contexts, so it's less common in everyday conversation. Learners might mistakenly use it in casual settings. Common collocations include 謁見 (yèjiàn, 'to pay a visit') and 謁訪 (yèfǎng, 'to pay respects').

What learners get wrong

Learners may confuse 謁 with the more casual 拜訪 (bàifǎng), using 謁 in informal contexts. For example, saying '我今天要謁朋友' (Wǒ jīntiān yào yè péngyǒu) is incorrect; it should be '我今天要拜訪朋友' (Wǒ jīntiān yào bàifǎng péngyǒu).

Write 謁

謁

Practice writing 謁 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 謁

Words Containing This Character5
谒yèto visit (a superior)謁
拜谒to pay a formal visit拜謁
谒陵to pay homage at a mausoleum謁陵
参谒to visit參謁
叩谒to visit (esp. one's superiors)叩謁
Exercise 1 of 4

Characters with 謁

What does 谒 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 謁

You might say, '我去謁見他' (Wǒ qù yèjiàn tā), which means 'I am going to pay my respects to him/her.'

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