How to Write 弈 (yì) — Meaning “to play Go (Chinese chess)”

Q: Can you give a creative mnemonic to remember 弈?

Picture two hands (廾) holding a black and a white Go stone, and they say "also" (亦) because you also want to play. This image connects the hands and the sound to the game of Go.

Q: What should I watch out for when writing 弈?

Write the top radical 廾 first as two straight vertical strokes connected by a horizontal at the bottom. Then add 亦 below with a dot on top. A common mistake is making the top too wide, so keep the character compact and balanced.

Q: How is 弈 different from the similar characters 弃 and 弄?

All three contain the hands radical 廾, but their top parts differ: 弈 has 亦 (also) underneath, 弃 has a lid (亠) above, and 弄 has 王 (king) above. In meaning, 弈 means playing Go, 弃 means to abandon, and 弄 means to play with or handle.

Q: When and where is 弈 used in modern Chinese?

弈 appears in formal or literary contexts, especially when talking about the ancient board game Go (围棋). Common words include 对弈 (to play Go) and 博弈 (game theory or strategic games), and it carries a sense of elegance and tradition.

Q: What common words use 弈?

Common words containing 弈 include: 对弈 (duì yì) — To play chess; 博弈 (bó yì) — game theory; 棋弈 (qí yì) — to play chess.

yì HSK Level 7 9 strokes Radical: 廾

弈 (yì) means "to play Go (Chinese chess)" in Chinese. It has 9 strokes with the radical 廾, and is HSK Level 7.

Rated 4/5 in difficulty (challenging).

Harder than 40% of HSK Level 7 characters.

Appears in 3+ common words including 对弈 (duì yì), 博弈 (bó yì), 棋弈 (qí yì).

Due to its 9 strokes, Hanzi Writer's error detection shows 弈 requires focused practice — most learners need 10+ attempts for consistent accuracy.

Practice Writing 弈 (yì)

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

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How to Write 弈

The character 弈 (yì) is written with 9 strokes. Follow the standard Chinese stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. The radical 廾 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 yì (弈) Mean in Chinese?

弈 means to play Go (Chinese chess).

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

Character Data

Character	弈
Pinyin	yì (yi)
Meaning	to play Go (Chinese chess)
Strokes	9
Radical	廾
HSK Level	7
Difficulty	4/5

Origin of 弈

The character 弈 combines 亦 (yì, acting as a phonetic hint) with 廾 (two hands), depicting hands manipulating pieces on a Go board. It originally referred specifically to the game of Go, where players use their hands to place stones.

💡 Memory Tip: Imagine two hands (廾) placing a black and a white stone on a Go board that looks like the top part 亦, with the two dots representing the stones.

Common Words with 弈

对弈 duì yì

To play chess

博弈 bó yì

game theory

棋弈 qí yì

to play chess

Example Sentences

他们在公园对弈。

tā men zài gōng yuán duì yì

They are playing chess in the park.

这是一个博弈的过程。

zhè shì yí gè bó yì de guò chéng

This is a process of strategic gaming.

他很喜欢棋弈活动。

tā hěn xǐ huān qí yì huó dòng

He enjoys playing board games like chess or Go.

Similar Characters Comparison

Character	Pinyin	Strokes	Radical
弈 (current)	yì	9	廾
弃	qì	7	廾
弄	lòng / nòng	7	廾
弇	yǎn	9	廾

Practice Writing 弈 (yì)

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

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Frequently Asked Questions about 弈

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

弈 is made of the radical 廾 (two hands) on top and 亦 (also) below. The two hands represent the action of placing stones in the game of Go, while 亦 mainly provides the pronunciation.

Can you give a creative mnemonic to remember 弈?

What should I watch out for when writing 弈?

How is 弈 different from the similar characters 弃 and 弄?

When and where is 弈 used in modern Chinese?

What common words use 弈?

How to Write 弈 (yì) — Meaning “to play Go (Chinese chess)”

Practice Writing 弈 (yì)

How to Write 弈

What Does yì (弈) Mean in Chinese?

Character Data

Origin of 弈

Common Words with 弈

Example Sentences

Similar Characters Comparison

Practice Writing 弈 (yì)

Frequently Asked Questions about 弈

More HSK Level 7 Characters

Characters with Radical 廾

Other 9-Stroke Characters