How to Write 扆 (yǐ) — Meaning “screen (placed behind a throne)”

Picture a door (户) with a large piece of clothing (衣) hanging behind it to block the view. This visual of a fabric screen behind a door helps link the components to the meaning of a throne screen. You can also think of a king sitting on a throne with a garment hanging behind him as a screen.

Write the top part 户 first, starting with the dot, then the horizontal stroke, then the vertical and the left-slanting stroke. For the bottom part 衣, keep it centered under 户 and make sure the final right-falling stroke (捺) extends clearly to the right. A common mistake is making the 衣 too wide or misaligning it with the top.

The key difference is the bottom part: 扆 has 衣 (clothing), 戽 has 斗 (a dipper) on the right, and 戾 has 犬 (dog) below. Their meanings are also distinct: 扆 means a screen, 戽 means to bail water, and 戾 means violence or perversion. Visual clues — clothing versus a dipper or a dog — help you distinguish them.

Today 扆 is rarely used in everyday speech, but it appears in classical texts and formal descriptions of ancient palace settings. Words like 扆座 (throne with a screen) and 扆屏 (decorative screen) occur in historical or ceremonial contexts. Learning it gives insight into traditional Chinese architecture and imperial symbolism.

Common words containing 扆 include: 扆座 (yǐ zuò) — throne with a screen; 扆屏 (yǐ píng) — decorative screen; 扆前 (yǐ qián) — in front of the screen.