义 yì — right conduct · English

义

yì

right conduct

At a glance · 义

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Evolution of the glyph

Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seen
Oracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCE
Seal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCE
Clerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CE
Regular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

⚠ Some ancient forms are not attested：oracle bone form、seal script form。No excavated oracle bone / seal artifact is attested for this character yet; we leave it blank rather than fabricate.

「义」繁体「義」从羊从我，金文象持羊表善，小篆承之。

What the sketch shows

Origins & notes

「义」本义为合宜、正义，引申道义、义气、意义。

Structure

从羊、从我，会意字，羊表善，我表仪，本为适宜、道义。简作义。

At a glance

Pinyinyì

Radical丶

Strokes3

UnicodeU+4E49

Character type会意

Theme德行

Six languages, one character

Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.

English right conduct right conduct, righteousness

Français justice / devoir Justice, devoir moral. «节义廉退» : le sens du devoir.

Español justicia / deber Justicia, deber moral. «节义廉退»: el sentido del deber.

العربية عدل / واجب عدل، واجب أخلاقي. «节义廉退»: الشعور بالواجب.

Русский справедливость / долг Справедливость, моральный долг. «节义廉退»: чувство долга.

Common words

意义yì yìmeaning
义务yì wùduty

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