艺

藝

yì

乙 + 艹

Definitions

yì (noun) art; skill

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 乙 represents the sound. Based on the original meaning "to plant". The meaning later shifted to "skill" and "art". Simplified form of 藝.

Semantic: 艹 Phonetic: 乙

About

The character 艺 means 'art' or 'skill'. It is a simplified form of 藝, a phonosemantic compound that combines the grass radical 艹 (meaning) with 乙 (sound). The original meaning was 'to plant'. The traditional 藝 illustrates this with 艹 above 埶, a kneeling person next to an earthen mound, representing the act of planting. Over time, the meaning shifted from the agricultural skill of planting to any skill or craft, and eventually to the fine arts.

Etymology Hide

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他学习艺术。

Tā xuéxí yìshù.

He studies art.

这门手艺很实用。

Zhè mén shǒuyì hěn shíyòng.

This craft is very practical.

她的表演艺术非常出色。

Tā de biǎoyǎn yìshù fēichū chūsè.

Her performing arts skills are outstanding.

他多才多艺，受人欢迎。

Tā duōcáiduōyì, shòu rén huānyíng.

He is talented and versatile, and very popular.

园艺需要耐心和知识。

Yuányì xūyào nàixīn hé zhīshi.

Gardening requires patience and knowledge.

电影艺术综合了多种技术。

Diànyǐng yìshù zònghé le duō zhǒng jìshù.

The art of cinema combines many kinds of techniques.

这个艺人的技艺是家传的。

Zhège yìrén de jìyì shì jiā chuán de.

This performer's skill is a family heirloom.

当代艺术常常挑战传统观念。

Dāngdài yìshù chángcháng tiǎozhàn chuántǒng guānniàn.

Contemporary art often challenges traditional concepts.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 乙

Component: 艹

艺