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March 24, 2026
英Yīng(Ying1)
The character 英 (Yīng) primarily refers to England or the United Kingdom, and is commonly used to denote anything British or English. Additionally, it can express qualities such as bravery or heroism, making it versatile in both geographic and descriptive contexts.
Strokes8Radical艹Frequency#4121DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the character 英 is often associated with the idea of heroism, reflecting the admiration for brave figures in history, such as military leaders. This cultural reverence influences its use in modern contexts.
Memory Tip
Think of 英 (Yīng) as a brave knight (the 'Ying' sounds like 'ing') in England, holding a flag with the English rose on it. The character has the radical for 'hero' and evokes imagery of valor and petals, linking bravery with beauty.
Meanings of 英
Yīng(Ying1)
1United Kingdom
2British
Exercise 1 of 3
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 英
英Simplified
8Strokes
艹Radical
简称abbreviation (abbr.)Part of Speech
#4121Frequency Rank
Podcast: 英
Podcast: 英
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AI Study Notes for 英
Quick Contrast
英 (Yīng) vs 英雄 (yīngxióng) — use 英 for British-related contexts and 英雄 specifically for the concept of a hero.
Memory Mnemonic
Think of 英 (Yīng) as a brave knight (the 'Ying' sounds like 'ing') in England, holding a flag with the English rose on it. The character has the radical for 'hero' and evokes imagery of valor and petals, linking bravery with beauty.
Usage Notes
英 is often used in compound words, such as 英國 (Yīngguó, meaning 'United Kingdom') and 英文 (Yīngwén, meaning 'English language'). Common mistakes include confusing it with the similar-sounding characters; always check context to ensure correct usage.
HSK Study Tips
Though 英 is not part of the official HSK levels, it connects with vocabulary related to countries and languages, which are important for beginner learners. Focus on its use in phrases that indicate nationality or language.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the character 英 is often associated with the idea of heroism, reflecting the admiration for brave figures in history, such as military leaders. This cultural reverence influences its use in modern contexts.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 英 with other characters that have similar sounds, such as 应 (Yīng, meaning 'should'). For example, mistakenly using 英国 (Yīngguó) when one means to say 应该 (Yīnggāi, meaning 'should') is a common error.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 英
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Grammar Patterns of 英
英 carries 9 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Traditionally young Asians in Britain have gravitated towards medicine, law and engineering.
7
那个节目将包括英格兰与爱尔兰比赛的实况报道。
nà gè jié mù jiāng bāo kuò yīng gé lán yǔ ài ěr lán bǐ sài de shí kuàng bào dào。
That programme will include live commentary on the England-Ireland game.
8
透支的客户每月要缴纳5英镑的费用。
tòu zhī de kè hù měi yuè yào jiǎo nà5 5 yīng bàng de fèi。
Customers who arrange overdrafts will face a monthly charge of £
9
每个月的彩池奖金总额达1,350万英镑。
měi gè yuè de cǎi chí jiǎng jīn zǒng é dá1,350 1,350 wàn yīng。
Each month the total prize kitty is £5 million.
10
该公司不得不为裁员支付4.72亿英镑的补偿款。
gāi gōng sī bù dé bù wéi cái yuán zhī fù4.72 4.72 yì yīng bàng de bǔ cháng。
The company has had to make redundancy payments of £472 million.
Cultural Notes for 英
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the character 英 is often associated with the idea of heroism, reflecting the admiration for brave figures in history, such as military leaders. This cultural reverence influences its use in modern contexts.
Word Family of 英
Compounds18
瑛ying1a gem's luster; crystal
媖
朠
渶
煐
锳
霙
韺
偀
愥
暎
楧
碤
緓
绬
蝧
鍈
鶧
Words Containing This Character20
英国United Kingdom 聯合王國|联合王国[Liánhéwángguó]英國
英雄yīngxiónghero
英语yīngyǔEnglish (language)英語
英Yīnghero
英里mile (unit of length equal to 1.609 km)
英尺foot (unit of length equal to 0.3048 m)
英寸inch (unit of length equal to 2.54 cm.)
英镑yīngbàngpound sterling英鎊
精英jīngyīngcream
英格兰England英格蘭
英俊yīngjùnhandsome
英文yīngwénEnglish (language)
英勇yīngyǒngheroic
英特尔Intel英特爾
马英九Ma Ying-jeou (1950-), Taiwanese Kuomintang politician, Mayor of Taipei 1998-2006, president of Republic of China 2008-2016馬英九
英国人British person英國人
英明yīngmíngwise
英亩acre英畝
美英US and UK
中英Sino-British
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 瑛 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 英
英 (yīng) is a character that means 'England' or 'British', while 英国 (Yīngguó) specifically refers to the 'United Kingdom.' In essence, 英 is a part of the word that describes the country, while 英国 denotes the nation as a whole.
Yes, 英 is commonly used in everyday conversation, especially when discussing topics related to England or the English language. It's frequently encountered in educational contexts, travel discussions, and cultural references.
英 (yīng) refers to England and can be used to describe something as British or English. It's commonly seen in words like 英国 (Yīngguó), which means 'United Kingdom'. The character also conveys a sense of excellence or heroism in certain contexts.
You can use 英 (yīng) in sentences like '我想去英国旅行' (Wǒ xiǎng qù Yīngguó lǚxíng), which means 'I want to travel to England.' It can also be used in combinations like 英文 (Yīngwén), meaning 'English language.'
In addition to signifying England, 英 also refers to the English language, as in 英文 (Yīngwén).
You might hear it in discussions about travel, culture, or when referring to English-speaking individuals.
No, it can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it's essential to use it appropriately depending on the topic.