yì

苅

Character · VerbTraditional乂

mow; cut; govern; pacify

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

2 senses · 5 examples
1.

verb

to cut (grass or grain); to mow; to reap (variant of 刈)

archaic

Archaic variant of 刈, rarely used in modern Chinese except in specific literary or lexical contexts.

Yì乂
cǎo草
wéi为
shí食
 。

They cut grass for food.

Tián田
jiān间
yì乂
mài麦
 ，
gǔ古
rén人
cháng常
yòng用
cǐ此
zì字
 。

In ancient times, people often used this character for reaping wheat in the fields.

2.

verb

to govern; to pacify; to bring under control

literary

Classical usage, often found in compounds like 乂安 (peaceful and well-governed) or 保乂 (to protect and govern).

Tiān天
xià下
yì乂
ān安
 ，
bǎi百
xìng姓
lè乐
yè业
 。

The world was at peace, and the people worked happily.

Bǎo保
yì乂
wáng王
shì室
 。

To protect and govern the royal house.

Show 1 more example
Xián贤
zhě者
yì乂
mín民
 。

The virtuous govern the people.