How to Write 殷 (yān/yīn) — Meaning “rich; flourishing; the Yin (Shang) Dynasty”

Q: What is a good memory trick to remember 殷?

Imagine a wealthy noble (left side looking like a person with a big belly) holding a large drumstick (殳) to play music at a grand feast. This links to the ideas of 'rich' and 'flourishing' because feasts and music show abundance.

Q: What are the key writing tips for 殷?

Pay attention to the left side 㐆: write the top stroke first, then the curved middle, then the final horizontal line. The right side 殳 has a short left stroke and then a wider right stroke; keep the whole character balanced and not too wide.

Q: How is 殷 different from 殴 and 段?

殷 (yān) has 㐆 on the left and means 'rich' or 'the Yin Dynasty'. 殴 (ōu) uses 区 on the left and means 'to beat'. 段 (duàn) uses the left side 㐅 (a different shape, from a hand breaking something) and means 'section' or 'segment'. The left parts are visually distinct.

Q: When is 殷 used in modern Chinese?

殷 appears in common words like 殷勤 (yīn qín, attentive and hospitable) and 殷红 (yān hóng, dark red). It also refers to the ancient Yin (Shang) Dynasty, so you may see it in historical texts. Note it has two pronunciations: yīn for most meanings and yān only in 殷红.

Q: What common words use 殷?

Common words containing 殷 include: 殷勤 (yīn qín) — attentive; hospitable; solicitous; 丰富 (fēng fù) — Rich; abundant; 殷红 (yān hóng) — Dark red; crimson..

yān/yīn HSK Level 7 10 strokes Radical: 殳

殷 (yān/yīn) means "rich; flourishing; the Yin (Shang) Dynasty" in Chinese. It has 10 strokes with the radical 殳, and is HSK Level 7.

Rated 4.2/5 in difficulty (advanced).

Harder than 65% of HSK Level 7 characters.

Appears in 3+ common words including 殷勤 (yīn qín), 丰富 (fēng fù), 殷红 (yān hóng).

Due to its 10 strokes, Hanzi Writer's error detection shows 殷 requires focused practice — most learners need 10+ attempts for consistent accuracy.

Practice Writing 殷 (yān/yīn)

Open Hanzi Writer to see the animated stroke order and practice writing 殷 with real-time feedback.

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How to Write 殷

The character 殷 (yān/yīn) is written with 10 strokes. Follow the standard Chinese stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. The radical 殳 is one of its key components.

Practice the correct stroke order with the Hanzi Writer app to see animated stroke-by-stroke guidance with real-time feedback.

What Does yān/yīn (殷) Mean in Chinese?

殷 means rich; flourishing; the Yin (Shang) Dynasty.

This is a polyphonic character with readings: yān, yīn.

As an HSK Level 7 character, 殷 is an intermediate-level character.

Character Data

Character	殷
Pinyin	yān / yīn (yan/yin)
Meaning	rich; flourishing; the Yin (Shang) Dynasty
Strokes	10
Radical	殳
HSK Level	7
Difficulty	4.2/5

Origin of 殷

The left component 㐆 originally depicted a person with a large belly, symbolizing abundance and wealth, while the right side 殳 shows a hand holding a tool or stick, indicating activity or craftsmanship. Together, they portray a prosperous individual engaged in productive work, giving the character its meanings of 'rich' and 'flourishing,' later applied to the Yin (Shang) Dynasty.

💡 Memory Tip: Picture a wealthy Yin Dynasty noble (㐆) with a big belly, holding a ceremonial staff (殳) at a lavish banquet celebrating the kingdom's prosperity.

Common Words with 殷

殷勤 yīn qín

attentive; hospitable; solicitous

丰富 fēng fù

Rich; abundant

殷红 yān hóng

Dark red; crimson.

Example Sentences

这里的服务生非常殷勤，让客人感到宾至如归。

zhè lǐ de fú wù shēng fēi cháng yīn qín ràng kè rén gǎn dào bīn zhì rú guī

The waiters here are very attentive, making guests feel at home.

殷红的夕阳染红了西边的半个天空。

yān hóng de xī yáng rǎn hóng le xī biān de bàn gè tiān kōng

The crimson sunset dyed half of the western sky red.

手指割破了，鲜血流出来呈现出殷红的颜色。

shǒu zhǐ gē pò le xiān xuè liú chū lái chéng xiàn chū yān hóng de yán sè

My finger was cut, and the blood flowing out was a deep red color.

Similar Characters Comparison

Character	Pinyin	Strokes	Radical
殷 (current)	yān / yīn	10	殳
殴	ōu	8	殳
段	duàn	9	殳
殸	qìng	11	殳

Practice Writing 殷 (yān/yīn)

Open Hanzi Writer to see the animated stroke order and practice writing 殷 with real-time feedback.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 殷

What are the components of 殷 and how do they relate to its meaning?

The left side is 㐆, which used to suggest a person turning, and the right side is 殳 (a hand holding a weapon or tool). Together, they originally indicated a grand musical performance or abundant flourishing, leading to meanings like 'rich' and 'the Yin Dynasty'.

What is a good memory trick to remember 殷?

What are the key writing tips for 殷?

How is 殷 different from 殴 and 段?

When is 殷 used in modern Chinese?

What common words use 殷?

How to Write 殷 (yān/yīn) — Meaning “rich; flourishing; the Yin (Shang) Dynasty”

Practice Writing 殷 (yān/yīn)

How to Write 殷

What Does yān/yīn (殷) Mean in Chinese?

Character Data

Origin of 殷

Common Words with 殷

Example Sentences

Similar Characters Comparison

Practice Writing 殷 (yān/yīn)

Frequently Asked Questions about 殷

More HSK Level 7 Characters

Characters with Radical 殳

Other 10-Stroke Characters