也 meaning and stroke order
Also; too; as well; (not ...) either; (used after a verbal or nominal expression X to indicate that X is an extreme or unexpected case) even (X); (literary) particle having functions similar to 啊[a5]
How to write 也, stroke by stroke
3 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
Meaning of 也
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- also; too; as well; (not ...) either
- (used after a verbal or nominal expression X to indicate that X is an extreme or unexpected case) even (X)
- (literary) particle having functions similar to 啊[a5]
How 也 is built
Components of the character.
Radical: 乚 (secret), shared by 9 characters on this site.
How to remember 也
也 (yě) ends with the hooked stroke 乚, which sweeps along and curls up at the end. Think of that hook as tagging one more thing onto what was already said: me too, this too.
也 is an adverb, so it goes before the verb or adjective, never at the start of the sentence like English "also". In negative sentences it means "either". Example: 我也是学生。(Wǒ yě shì xuésheng.) I am a student too.
Common mistake: Learners often say 也我喜欢 or put 也 at the end like English "too". The correct order is subject + 也 + verb: 我也喜欢 (wǒ yě xǐhuan). Also do not confuse 也 with 他 (tā), which adds the person radical 亻 to the left.
Common words with 也
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 也许 | yěxǔ | perhaps; maybe | HSK 2 |
| 再也 | zài yě | (not) ever again; (not) any longer | HSK 5 |
| 也好 | yěhǎo | that's fine; may as well | HSK 5 |
| 也就是说 | yějiùshìshuō | in other words; that is to say | HSK 7-9 |
| 也罢 | yěbà | (reduplicated) whether... or...; never mind | |
| 空空如也 | kōngkōngrúyě | as empty as anything (idiom); completely bereft; to have nothing |
也 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 也
Learning 也 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 也
How many strokes are in 也?
也 is written with 3 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 也 mean?
也 (yě) means also; too; as well; (not ...) either; (used after a verbal or nominal expression X to indicate that X is an extreme or unexpected case) even (X); (literary) particle having functions similar to 啊[a5]. A common word with it is 也许 (yěxǔ), meaning "perhaps; maybe".
How do you pronounce 也?
也 is pronounced yě, in the third tone (dipping).
What is the radical of 也?
The radical of 也 is 乚, which carries the idea of "secret". Dictionaries list 也 under this radical.
Is 也 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 也 is part of the HSK 1 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 1.
What is the difference between 也 and 还 (hái)?
也 means the same thing applies to another subject or item, as in 他也去 (he is going too). 还 adds something more or says something is still the case, as in 我还要一杯 (I want another cup).
How does 也 mean "even"?
In patterns like 一点儿也不 or 连...也, 也 stresses an extreme case. For example 他一点儿也不累 (tā yìdiǎnr yě bú lèi) means he is not tired at all. Here 也 works much like 都 (dōu).