How to Write 弋 (yì) — Meaning “to hunt with a bow and arrow”

Imagine the top horizontal line is the bowstring, the curved hooked line is the bow itself, and the small dot is the arrowhead aiming downward. This visual of a bow and arrow hitting a target helps connect the shape to its meaning of hunting. Practice seeing the character as a simple weapon sketch.

Stroke order: first a short horizontal line, then a diagonal hook that starts from the right end of the horizontal and curves downward left, and finally a dot placed inside the hook's curve. Common mistakes are making the hook too long or forgetting the dot, so keep the hook compact and the dot clearly separate.

Common expressions include 巡弋 (xún yì) meaning 'to patrol' or 'to cruise' (often naval patrols), 游弋 (yóu yì) meaning 'to cruise' (like a ship moving), and 弋获 (yì huò) meaning 'to capture' (from hunting). These are used in formal, literary, or military contexts, not in everyday speech.

弋 is rarely used alone; it appears mostly in classical texts, historical terms, or compound words like those above. Culturally, it is an ancient character from oracle bone script, symbolizing early Chinese archery and hunting. It is also a rare surname, but learners encounter it primarily in reading classical literature.

Common words containing 弋 include: 巡弋 (xún yì) — To cruise / To patrol (waters); 游弋 (yóu yì) — To cruise or patrol; 弋获 (yì huò) — to capture or catch.