異 meaning and stroke order
Different, strange, unusual; foreign; surprising
How to write 異, stroke by stroke
11 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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- 11
Meaning of 異
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- different
- other
- hetero-
- unusual
- strange
- surprising
How 異 is built
Pictographic character. A person with a scary face 田.
Radical: 田 (field), shared by 46 characters on this site.
How to remember 異
The top part 田 is a person's scary face, and the bottom 共 looks like arms raised up. Picture someone lifting their hands to show a strange, frightening face, and you have 異 (yì), meaning strange or different.
異 is the traditional form, and in mainland simplified Chinese it is written 异. It rarely stands alone and usually appears in words like 異常 (yìcháng, unusual) or 差異 (chāyì, difference). Example: 他今天有點異常。(Tā jīntiān yǒudiǎn yìcháng.) He is a bit unusual today.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 異 with 翼 (yì, wing), which has the same sound and a similar 田共 shape but adds 羽 on top. Also note that 異議 (yìyì, objection) uses two different characters that share the same fourth tone, so do not write 異異.
Common words with 異
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 異常 | yìcháng | unusual; abnormal; extremely; exceptionally | HSK 6 |
| 差異 | chāyì | difference; discrepancy | HSK 6 |
| 怪異 | guàiyì | monstrous; strange | HSK 7-9 |
| 異議 | yìyì | objection; dissent | HSK 7-9 |
| 變異 | biànyì | variation | HSK 7-9 |
| 異性 | yìxìng | the opposite sex; of the opposite sex | HSK 7-9 |
| 異想天開 | yìxiǎng-tiānkāi | (idiom) to imagine the wildest thing; to indulge in fantasy | HSK 7-9 |
| 優異 | yōuyì | exceptional; outstandingly good | HSK 7-9 |
| 詫異 | chàyì | flabbergasted; astonished | HSK 7-9 |
| 大同小異 | dàtóng-xiǎoyì | virtually the same; differing only on small points | HSK 7-9 |
| 奇花異草 | qíhuā-yìcǎo | (idiom) rare or exotic flowers and plants | HSK 7-9 |
| 日新月異 | rìxīn-yuèyì | daily renewal, monthly change (idiom); every day sees new developments | HSK 7-9 |
| 異口同聲 | yìkǒu-tóngshēng | different mouths, same voice; to speak in unison (idiom) | HSK 7-9 |
| 因人而異 | yīnrén'éryì | varying from person to person (idiom); different for each individual | HSK 7-9 |
Characters that contain 異
Learning 異 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 異
How many strokes are in 異?
異 is written with 11 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 異 mean?
異 (yì) means different, strange, unusual; foreign; surprising. A common word with it is 异常 (yìcháng), meaning "unusual; abnormal; extremely; exceptionally".
How do you pronounce 異?
異 is pronounced yì, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 異?
The radical of 異 is 田, which carries the idea of "field". Dictionaries list 異 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 異?
異 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 异, used in mainland China and Singapore.
What does 異性 mean and how is it used?
異性 (yìxìng) means the opposite sex, literally a different sex. It is common in phrases like 異性朋友 (yìxìng péngyou), a friend of the opposite sex.
Does 異 always have a negative meaning?
No. It can mean strange, but it can also mean outstanding, as in 優異 (yōuyì, exceptional), which is high praise for grades or performance.