叶 yè — leaf · English

叶

yè

leaf

At a glance · 叶

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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.

繁体「葉」从艸，枼声，本义为植物的叶。简体「叶」原读xié（和洽），后借为「葉」简化字。

What the sketch shows

Origins & notes

本义为树叶；简体借古「叶」（xié）字表示。

Structure

形声字，繁体「葉」从艸（意符，草木），枼（yè）为声符；简体「叶」原为会意/形声异体。

At a glance

Pinyinyè

Radical口

Strokes5

UnicodeU+53F6

Character type形声

Theme植物

Six languages, one character

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

English leaf The leaf of a plant.

Français feuille La feuille d’une plante.

Español hoja La hoja de una planta.

العربية ورقة ورقة النبات.

Русский лист Лист растения.

Common words

叶子yè zileaf
树叶shù yèleaf

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