How to Write 腋 (yè) — Meaning “Armpit”

Imagine that your armpit is like a "night" (夜) hiding under your arm because it is dark and warm there. Alternatively, think of the 月 radical as a piece of meat under your arm, and the 夜 reminds you of the word "yè" sound.

Write the left radical 月 first (4 strokes) in a narrow shape, then the right part 夜 (8 strokes). A common mistake is to forget the single dot on top of 夜 or to write the upper component 亠 incorrectly; also ensure the 夜 part aligns vertically with the 月.

腋 has 夜 (night) on the right, while 朔 has a different right side (朔, meaning first day of month) and 朕 has 关 with an extra stroke (meaning 'I' used by emperors). Their meanings are completely different: 腋 is armpit, 朔 is the new moon, and 朕 is an imperial pronoun.

腋 is used in formal or medical terms like 腋下 (underarm) and 腋窝 (armpit). In daily conversation, people often say 胳肢窝 (gāzhiwo) instead. Culturally, 腋毛 (underarm hair) is a common term, and in traditional Chinese medicine, the armpit is an important acupoint area.

Common words containing 腋 include: 腋下 (yè xià) — Underarm / Armpit; 腋窝 (yè wō) — Armpit; 腋毛 (yè máo) — Underarm hair.