How to Write 芸 (yún) — Meaning “Rue (a plant); to weed”

Imagine a cloud (云) floating above a field of grass (艹), representing the rue plant growing under the sky. The cloud shape reminds you of the pronunciation "yún," and the grass reminds you it is a plant. This visual link helps you recall both the sound and meaning.

Start with the top grass radical: write the horizontal stroke first, then the two vertical strokes. The bottom part 云 should be slightly wider than the grass, with the two horizontal strokes parallel and the hook stroke curling upward. A common mistake is making the 云 component too tall—keep it compact to balance the character.

芸 has a grass radical on top of 云, while 兹 (cí/zī) has two 玄 (mysterious) components stacked and means "now" or "this." 艻 (lè) looks like 芸 but replaces the bottom 云 with 力 (strength), and it refers to a type of grass used for seasoning. Focus on the bottom part to distinguish them: 云 for 芸, 玄 for 兹, and 力 for 艻.

Common words containing 芸 include: 芸豆 (yún dòu) — Kidney bean; 芸香 (yún xiāng) — Common rue; 芸芸 (yún yún) — Numerous; ordinary.