义

義

yì

Rank #208

Definitions

yì (noun) righteousness; justice

yì (noun) meaning

yì (adjective) adopted; artificial

Etymology

Adapted from the cursive form of the traditional character 義. Phonosemantic compound. 羊 represents the meaning and 我 represents the sound. In ancient China sheep (羊) were associated with goodness and beauty, which is why 羊 is a component in characters like 美 (beautiful), 善 (benevolent), and 義 (justice).

Semantic: ⺷ Phonetic: 乂

About

The character for "righteousness" or "justice", originally written as "義", is structured from two components: "羊" (sheep), a symbol of auspiciousness and ritual sacrifice, and "我" (self), representing the first-person pronoun or the ego. This combination initially pointed to a sense of personal dignity and proper conduct fitting for one's role, a meaning grounded in ritual propriety and individual honor. Over centuries, its conceptual weight shifted outward, moving from this inward-facing notion of appropriateness to embody an objective, impartial standard of moral rightness and what is ethically just in a social context. The modern simplified form "义" is not a new invention but an ancient variant that employs the component "乂", which signifies governance or cutting, thereby emphasizing a decisive moral principle that stands apart from the self. This change in form reflects the broader semantic evolution from a virtue based on personal standing to an abstract, universal ideal governing interpersonal duty and fairness.