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遺 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
遺yíto lose; a lost articlezg, 15 strokes, radical 辶, rank #61972, Very Hard
yí(yi2) T2
  1. 1to lose; a lost article
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

遺yí(yi2)

The character 遺 (yí) means 'to lose' or refers to a 'lost article.' It is commonly used in contexts where something has been misplaced or forgotten, such as lost belongings or missed opportunities. This character can also imply leaving something behind, either physically or metaphorically.

Strokes15Radical辶Frequency#61972DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of loss is often tied to the importance of family and heritage, as seen in discussions about遗产 (inheritance) and its emotional weight. The idea of leaving behind a legacy is significant in familial contexts.

Memory Tip

Imagine 'yí' as a wandering spirit, lost in the world. The character 遺 has the radical for 'road' (辶), suggesting a journey where something valuable is left behind, like a lost treasure on a winding path.

Meanings of 遺

yí(yi2)
1to lose; a lost article
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 遺

遺Simplified
15Strokes
辶Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 遺

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Podcast: 遺

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AI Study Notes for 遺

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 遺 with similar-sounding words like 以 (yǐ), which means 'to use.' It is typically used in more formal contexts, such as legal or literary discussions about loss. Common collocations include 遺失 (yí shī - to lose) and 遺產 (yí chǎn - inheritance).

HSK Study Tips

Although 遺 is not part of the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects well with other HSK words related to loss or absence, like 失 (shī - to lose). Focus on understanding its usage in phrases and its relation to emotions surrounding loss.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 遺 with 遺忘 (yí wàng) thinking they mean the same thing; however, 遺 specifically focuses on loss, while 遺忘 emphasizes forgetting. A common error is saying '我遺了我的錢' instead of '我遺失了我的錢' (I lost my money).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 遺

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Etymology of 遺

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Explanation

Simplified form of 遺. Phonosemantic compound. 辶 represents the meaning and 貴 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

To leave 辶 something valuable 貴 behind

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 遺

Simplified form of 遺. Phonosemantic compound. 辶 represents the meaning and 貴 represents the sound.

  1. 1The giveawayTo leave 辶 something valuable 貴 behind
  2. 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 遺? 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 遺?

Decomposition of 遺

IDS Structure⿺辶貴
遺Full Character
=
辶chuo4
enclosing
貴gui4
inner
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 遺?

How to say to lose; a lost article in Chinese

“to lose; a lost article” in Chinese is遺yí

The character 遺 (yí) means 'to lose' or refers to a 'lost article.' It is commonly used in contexts where something has been misplaced or forgotten, such as lost belongings or missed opportunities. This character can also imply leaving something behind, either physically or metaphorically.

When to use 遺

Learners often confuse 遺 with similar-sounding words like 以 (yǐ), which means 'to use.' It is typically used in more formal contexts, such as legal or literary discussions about loss. Common collocations include 遺失 (yí shī - to lose) and 遺產 (yí chǎn - inheritance).

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 遺 with 遺忘 (yí wàng) thinking they mean the same thing; however, 遺 specifically focuses on loss, while 遺忘 emphasizes forgetting. A common error is saying '我遺了我的錢' instead of '我遺失了我的錢' (I lost my money).

Write 遺

遺

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

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Word Family of 遺

Words Containing This Character20
遗憾yíhànregret遺憾
遗产yíchǎnheritage遺產
遗传yíchuánheredity遺傳
遗忘yíwàngto forget遺忘
遗嘱yízhǔwill遺囑
遗体yítǐremains (of a dead person)遺體
遗址yízhǐruins遺址
遗漏to overlook遺漏
遗弃yíqìto leave遺棄
遗失yíshīto lose遺失
遗留yíliúto leave behind遺留
遗yíto lose遺
遗书testament遺書
遗言words of the deceased遺言
后遗症hòuyízhèng(medicine) sequelae後遺症
遗迹trace遺跡
遗物yíwùremnant遺物
不遗余力to spare no pains or effort (idiom); to do one's utmost不遺餘力
遗孀widow遺孀
遗愿yíyuànfinal wishes of the departed遺願
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 遗憾 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 遺

It is pronounced 'yí' with a rising tone.

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