易

yì

勿 + 日

Definitions

yì (adjective) easy; simple

yì (verb) to change

yì (verb) to exchange

Etymology

Upside-down version of 益, depicting food or drink being poured from a container (皿). Based on the original meaning "to bestow, give", now written as 賜. The meaning later shifted to "exchange", "change", and "easy".

About

易 is an inverted form of 益, depicting food or drink being poured from a vessel (皿). Its original meaning was "to bestow" or "to give", a sense now represented by 賜. Over time, the meaning shifted to "exchange" and "change", and later extended to "easy", as something effortlessly exchanged or altered.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这件事很容易。

Zhè jiàn shì hěn róng yì.

This matter is very easy.

我们进行了一笔交易。

Wǒmen jìnxíngle yī bǐ jiāo yì.

We conducted a transaction.

编程易学但难精通。

Biānchéng yì xué dàn nán jīngtōng.

Programming is easy to learn but hard to master.

气候易变影响农业。

Qìhòu yì biàn yǐngxiǎng nóngyè.

Climate changeability affects agriculture.

他们住在简易的房子里。

Tāmen zhù zài jiǎn yì de fángzi lǐ.

They live in a simple house.

这幅画已经易手三次。

Zhè fú huà yǐjīng yì shǒu sān cì.

This painting has changed hands three times.

新手机的设计非常易用。

Xīn shǒujī de shèjì fēicháng yì yòng.

The design of the new phone is very user-friendly.

老年人易感疾病需要定期检查。

Lǎonián rén yì gǎn jíbìng, xūyào dìngqī jiǎnchá.

Elderly people are susceptible to diseases and need regular check-ups.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 勿

Component: 日

Example Words