易 yì — change; easy · English

易

yì

change; easy

At a glance · 易

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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.

甲骨文象蜥蜴（变色龙）之形，本义为蜥蜴，假借为「变易」「容易」。小篆讹变。

What the sketch shows

Origins & notes

本义为蜥蜴，后假借表变换、简易。

Structure

象形字，甲骨文象蜥蜴；假借为变化、容易。

At a glance

Pinyinyì

Radical日

Strokes8

UnicodeU+6613

Character type象形

Theme动作

Six languages, one character

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

English change; easy To change; also easy (opposite of hard).

Français changer; facile Changer ; aussi facile.

Español cambiar; fácil Cambiar ; también fácil.

العربية يتغير؛ سهل يتغيّر؛ ويُستعار لـ«سهل».

Русский менять; легко Менять; также легко.

Common words

容易róng yìeasy
交易jiāo yìtrade

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