夷 (yí) — (bound form) level, smooth; to raze, to destroy; (historical, bound form) barbarian (tribe); foreigner

Definition

Classical/bound form with two main senses: (1) physical — level, smooth, or razed flat; (2) historical — a derogatory classical term for non-Han 'barbarian' tribes or foreign peoples, common in ancient texts. Not used in modern spoken Chinese.

bound form
levelsmoothto razeto destroy(historical, bound form) barbarian (tribe)foreigner
Easily confused

Examples

  • 。
    Nà ge cūn zhuāng bèi yí wéi píng dì le.
    That village was razed to the ground.
  • 夷。
    Gǔ dài wén xiàn zhōng cháng tí dào dōng yí.
    Ancient texts often mention the eastern barbarians.
  • 夷。
    Zhè běn shū yán jiū le gǔ dài yí zú de wén huà.
    This book studies the culture of ancient barbarian tribes.

Origin

Compound ideograph
六书liùshū
会意huìyì

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The original form showed 矢 (arrow) with 弓 (rope), and meant shooting arrows. Later forms showed 大 (person) with 弓 (bow).

Appears in
Ethnic Groups & NationalitiesHistory

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