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怡 (yí) — (bound morpheme) happy, joyful (used in compounds)

Definition

怡 (yí) is a bound morpheme meaning 'happy, at ease' — it never stands alone, only appearing in compounds like 怡然, 神怡, and 怡情 to convey a calm, contented joy rather than loud excitement.

bound form
(bound morpheme) happyjoyful (used in compounds)

Examples

  • ，，。
    Tā tuì xiū yǐ hòu, shēng huó yí rán zì dé, fēi cháng kuài lè.
    After retiring, his life was content and happy, very joyful.
  • ，怡。
    Zài huā yuán lǐ sàn bù, ràng rén xīn kuàng shén yí.
    Taking a walk in the garden makes one feel carefree and happy.
  • ，怡。
    Tā xǐ huan tán qín, shuō zhè yàng kě yǐ yí qíng yǎng xìng.
    She likes to play the piano, saying it can soothe the mind and cultivate character.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
忄Written in full as心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
台
台tái怡⁰yí
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

怡 uses 忄, a form of 心 (heart), together with 台, which shows how it is pronounced.

Appears in
Emotions & Feelings

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