影 meaning and stroke order
Shadow; image, reflection; photograph
How to write 影, stroke by stroke
15 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 影
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- picture
- image
- film
- movie
- photograph
- reflection
How 影 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Sunlight.
彡 gives the meaning and 景 hints at the sound.
Radical: 彡 (hair), shared by 14 characters on this site.
How to remember 影
On the left is 景 (jǐng, scenery), which gives the sound, and on the right is 彡, three slanted strokes the etymology links to sunlight. Picture sunlight rays falling across a scene and casting a shadow beside it.
影 rarely stands alone in modern speech. It mostly appears in words like 电影 (diànyǐng, movie), 影子 (yǐngzi, shadow) and 影响 (yǐngxiǎng, influence). Example: 我们晚上去看电影吧。(Wǒmen wǎnshang qù kàn diànyǐng ba.) Let's go see a movie tonight.
Common mistake: Learners often say yìng or jǐng because of 映 (yìng, to reflect) and the phonetic 景 (jǐng). The correct tone is third tone, yǐng. Also remember 彡 has three strokes, not two.
Common words with 影
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 电影 | diànyǐng | movie; film | HSK 1 |
| 电影院 | diànyǐngyuàn | cinema; movie theater | HSK 1 |
| 影响 | yǐngxiǎng | influence; effect | HSK 2 |
| 影片 | yǐngpiàn | a copy of a film; film; motion picture; movie | HSK 2 |
| 影视 | yǐngshì | movies and television | HSK 3 |
| 影子 | yǐngzi | shadow; reflection | HSK 4 |
| 摄影师 | shèyǐngshī | photographer; cinematographer; cameraman | HSK 5 |
| 摄影 | shèyǐng | to take a photograph; photography | HSK 5 |
| 阴影 | yīnyǐng | (lit. and fig.) shadow | HSK 6 |
| 影响力 | yǐngxiǎnglì | influence; impact | HSK 6 |
| 影迷 | yǐngmí | film enthusiast; movie fan | HSK 6 |
| 影星 | yǐngxīng | film star | HSK 6 |
| 影像 | yǐngxiàng | image | HSK 7-9 |
| 身影 | shēnyǐng | silhouette; figure | HSK 7-9 |
影 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 影
How many strokes are in 影?
影 is written with 15 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 影 mean?
影 (yǐng) means shadow; image, reflection; photograph. A common word with it is 电影 (diànyǐng), meaning "movie; film".
How do you pronounce 影?
影 is pronounced yǐng, in the third tone (dipping).
What is the radical of 影?
The radical of 影 is 彡, which carries the idea of "hair". Dictionaries list 影 under this radical.
Is 影 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 影 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 2.
What is the difference between 影 and 映?
影 (yǐng) is a noun for a shadow, image or film. 映 (yìng) is a verb meaning to reflect or to show a film, as in 放映 (fàngyìng, to screen a movie).
Why does 影响 mean influence?
影响 (yǐngxiǎng) literally pairs shadow and echo. Both follow something else, so the word came to mean an effect one thing has on another. Example: 天气影响心情。(Tiānqì yǐngxiǎng xīnqíng.) Weather affects mood.