HSK 7, ns, 12 strokes, radical 隹, rank #4938, Hard
雅
yǎ
elegant, graceful, refined
HSK 7, ns, 12 strokes, radical 隹, rank #4938, Hard
yǎ(ya3) T3
1elegant
2elegant, graceful, refined
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March 24, 2026
雅yǎ(ya3)
雅 (yǎ) refers to elegance or refinement in terms of taste, manners, or style. It is commonly used to describe art, literature, and personal demeanor that exhibit grace and sophistication. The term conveys a sense of high quality and aesthetic appeal.
Strokes12Radical隹Frequency#4938DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, elegance is highly valued, particularly in literature and art. The term 雅 is often associated with classical poetry and traditional aesthetics, which emphasize harmony and beauty.
Memory Tip
Imagine a graceful swan gliding elegantly on a serene lake, embodying the essence of 雅 (yǎ). The character 雅 has a component that resembles a roof (家), symbolizing a refined home where elegance is nurtured.
Meanings of 雅
yǎ(ya3)
1elegant
2elegant, graceful, refined
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 雅
雅Simplified
12Strokes
隹Radical
地名míngcíplace name (p.n.)Part of Speech
#4938Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7
Podcast: 雅
Podcast: 雅
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AI Study Notes for 雅
Quick Contrast
雅 (yǎ) vs 精致 (jīngzhì) - use 雅 for elegance in a broader cultural context, while 精致 emphasizes intricate craftsmanship or detail.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a graceful swan gliding elegantly on a serene lake, embodying the essence of 雅 (yǎ). The character 雅 has a component that resembles a roof (家), symbolizing a refined home where elegance is nurtured.
Usage Notes
雅 is often used in both formal and informal contexts, depending on the subject matter. Common collocations include 雅致 (yǎzhì, refined) and 雅典 (yǎdiǎn, elegant). Be careful with the third tone; it can easily be mispronounced as the second tone, which alters the meaning.
HSK Study Tips
Although 雅 is not included in the HSK levels, it connects with other vocabulary related to aesthetics and culture, such as 美 (měi, beautiful) and 精致 (jīngzhì, exquisite). Students should focus on its usage in describing art and personal qualities.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, elegance is highly valued, particularly in literature and art. The term 雅 is often associated with classical poetry and traditional aesthetics, which emphasize harmony and beauty.
Common Mistakes
Learners may confuse 雅 with the similar-sounding word 牙 (yá, tooth) due to tonal mistakes. For example, saying '我觉得这个房子很牙' (I think this house is very tooth) instead of '我觉得这个房子很雅' (I think this house is very elegant).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 雅
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Grammar Patterns of 雅
雅 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
我的确非常喜欢这里宁静幽____、不受打扰的氛围。
I do very much appreciate the quietness and privacy here.
Example Sentences for 雅 (10)
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1
我的确非常喜欢这里宁静幽雅、不受打扰的氛围。
wǒ de què fēi cháng xǐ huān zhè lǐ níng jìng yōu yǎ、 、 bù shòu dǎ rǎo de fēn。
I do very much appreciate the quietness and privacy here.
2
你不觉得她有点太附庸风雅了吗？
nǐ bù jué dé tā yǒu diǎn tài fù yōng fēng yǎ le ma？
Didn't you find her a little bit too arty?
3
人们为找工作而迁移到雅加达这类城市里。
rén mén wéi zhǎo gōng zuò ér qiān yí dào yǎ jiā dá zhè lèi chéng shì lǐ。
People migrate to cities like Jakarta in search of work.
He is polished, charming, articulate and an excellent negotiator.
8
他辞去了在雅典当办公室勤杂工的工作。
tā cí qù le zài yǎ diǎn dāng bàn gōng shì qín zá gōng de gōng zuò。
He quit his job as an office boy in Athens.
9
他是个巴罗克式的人物，衣着华丽但又不失优雅。
tā shì gè bā luó kè shì de rén wù， ， yī zháo huá lì dàn yòu bù shī yōu。
He was a baroque figure dressed in theatrical, but elegant, clothes.
10
到广场饭店喝鸡尾酒是他们这个高雅时髦的圈子中的人每晚必做的事情。
dào guǎng cháng fàn diàn hē jī wěi jiǔ shì tā mén zhè gè gāo yǎ shí máo de quān zǐ zhōng de rén měi wǎn bì zuò de shì qíng。
Cocktails at the Plaza was a nightly ritual of their sophisticated world.
Cultural Notes for 雅
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, elegance is highly valued, particularly in literature and art. The term 雅 is often associated with classical poetry and traditional aesthetics, which emphasize harmony and beauty.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
Unlike in Western cultures where elegance might focus on fashion, in Chinese culture, it encompasses a broader range, including moral and intellectual refinement.
Word Family of 雅
Compounds1
蕥
Words Containing This Character20
雅yǎelegant
优雅yōuyǎgrace優雅
西雅图Seattle, Washington State西雅圖
高雅gāoyǎdainty
雅虎Yahoo, Internet portal
玛雅Maya (civilization)瑪雅
雅典Athens, capital of Greece
典雅refined
文雅wényǎelegant
雅致elegant
雅加达Jakarta, capital of Indonesia雅加達
大雅Taya township in Taichung county 臺中縣|台中县[Táizhōngxiàn], Taiwan
雅克Jacques (name)
欧莱雅L'Oréal (French cosmetics company)歐萊雅
雅思IELTS (International English Language Testing System)
淡雅simple and elegant
秀雅exquisite
雅丽elegant雅麗
儒雅scholarly
温文尔雅cultured and refined (idiom); gentle and cultivated溫文爾雅
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 雅 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 雅
Synonyms include 精致 (jīngzhì, exquisite) and 高雅 (gāoyǎ, lofty and elegant).
You can say, '这幅画很雅,' meaning 'This painting is very elegant.'
雅 is more commonly found in writing, particularly in literary contexts, but can also be used in formal speaking.
