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肀 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
肀yùpenzg, 4 strokes, radical 肀
yù(yu4) T4
  1. 1pen
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March 24, 2026

肀yù(yu4)

The character 肀 (yù) refers specifically to a type of pen or writing instrument. It is not commonly used in modern Mandarin and may appear in historical texts or specific contexts related to traditional writing tools.

Strokes4Radical肀
Cultural Note

The character 肀 connects to Chinese calligraphy, a highly regarded art form in Chinese culture, where the choice of writing instruments can greatly influence the style and quality of the work.

Memory Tip

Imagine a traditional scholar sitting at a desk, using a fine pen (肀) to craft beautiful calligraphy. The character 肀 resembles a person (亻) holding a pen (the horizontal stroke at the top) ready to write.

Meanings of 肀

yù(yu4)
1pen
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 肀 means.

About 肀

肀Simplified
4Strokes
肀Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 肀

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Podcast: 肀

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AI Study Notes for 肀

Usage Notes

肀 is rarely used in everyday conversation, often replaced by the more common term 笔 (bǐ) for 'pen'. Be cautious with register; using 肀 in informal settings may confuse listeners unfamiliar with archaic terms.

HSK Study Tips

Since 肀 is not included in any HSK levels, focus on related vocabulary like 笔 (bǐ) and 墨 (mò, ink) to build a more practical understanding of writing tools in Chinese.

Common Mistakes

Learners may confuse 肀 with similar characters like 笔 (bǐ), leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying 肀 instead of 笔 when referring to a pen in conversation would be incorrect.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 肀

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Jason Explains 肀 to You

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Etymology of 肀

Formation TypePictographic 象形
六书 ClassificationPictograph (象形字)~4% of characters
Memory Hint

A hand 彐 holding a pen; compare 聿

Learn more about Pictograph (象形字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

What kind of character is 肀?

Decomposition of 肀

IDS Structure⿻彐丨
肀Full Character
=
彐ji4
outer
丨gun3
inner
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 肀?

How to say pen in Chinese

“pen” in Chinese is肀yù

The character 肀 (yù) refers specifically to a type of pen or writing instrument. It is not commonly used in modern Mandarin and may appear in historical texts or specific contexts related to traditional writing tools.

When to use 肀

肀 is rarely used in everyday conversation, often replaced by the more common term 笔 (bǐ) for 'pen'. Be cautious with register; using 肀 in informal settings may confuse listeners unfamiliar with archaic terms.

What learners get wrong

Learners may confuse 肀 with similar characters like 笔 (bǐ), leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying 肀 instead of 笔 when referring to a pen in conversation would be incorrect.

Write 肀

肀

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

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Frequently Asked Questions about 肀

No, 肀 is quite rare and typically found in historical or specialized contexts.

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