易

See also: 昜

易	U+6613, 易 CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-6613

← 昒

CJK Unified Ideographs

昔 →

易	U+F9E0, 易 CJK COMPATIBILITY IDEOGRAPH-F9E0

← 履

CJK Compatibility Ideographs

李 →

Translingual

Stroke order

Han character

易 (Kangxi radical 72, 日+4, 8 strokes, cangjie input 日心竹竹 (APHH), four-corner 6022₇, composition ⿱日勿)

Derived characters

㑥, 埸, 㛫, 惕, 掦, 晹, 焬, 㻛, 睗, 裼, 緆(𰬣), 舓, 蜴, 𧩎, 賜(赐), 踢, 錫(锡), 䯜, 鯣, 𪎥
逷, 䞶, 剔, 𢒗, 敡, 鶍, 䓪, 鬄, 痬, 𪎧, 惖

References

Kangxi Dictionary: page 492, character 3
Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 13814
Dae Jaweon: page 854, character 8
Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 2, page 1494, character 1
Unihan data for U+6613

Unihan data for U+F9E0

Chinese

Glyph origin

Historical forms of the character 易
Shang	Western Zhou	Warring States	Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han)	Liushutong (compiled in Ming)
Oracle bone script	Bronze inscriptions	Chu slip and silk script	Small seal script	Transcribed ancient scripts

Characters in the same phonetic series (易) (Zhengzhang, 2003)

	Old Chinese
賜	*sleːɡs
儩	*sleɡs
舓	*ɦljeʔ
易	leːɡs, leɡ
敡	*leɡs
鬄	*sljeɡ
睗	*hljeɡ
晹	*hljeɡ
痬	*leɡ
蜴	*leɡ
埸	*leɡ
逷	*l̥ʰeːɡ
剔	*l̥ʰeːɡ
踢	*tʰeːɡ
惕	*l̥ʰeːɡ
錫	*sleːɡ
裼	*sleːɡ
緆	*sleːɡ

Oracle bone script and bronze inscriptions: a pictogram (象形) of a filled container, the original form of 賜 (OC *sleːɡs, “to confer, to bestow”). Possibly specialised from 益 (OC *qleɡ, “to increase, to add”).

Etymology 1

simp. and trad.		易
2nd round simp.		𠃓

From 移 (OC *lal, “to change; to alter”) + k-extension (Schuessler, 2007).

This etymology is incomplete. You can help Wiktionary by elaborating on the origins of this term.

Pronunciation

Mandarin
(Pinyin): yì (yi⁴)

(Zhuyin): ㄧˋ
Cantonese
(Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): jik⁶

(Taishan, Wiktionary): yet⁵
Hakka (Sixian, PFS): yi̍t
Eastern Min (BUC): ĭk
Southern Min
(Hokkien, POJ): e̍k / ia̍k / ia̍h

(Teochew, Peng'im): êg⁸ / iah⁸
Wu (Wugniu)
- (Northern): ⁸yiq

Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Hanyu Pinyin: yì
  - Zhuyin: ㄧˋ
  - Tongyong Pinyin: yì
  - Wade–Giles: i⁴
  - Yale: yì
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: yih
  - Palladius: и (i)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /i⁵¹/
Cantonese
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)⁺
  - Jyutping: jik⁶
  - Yale: yihk
  - Cantonese Pinyin: jik⁹
  - Guangdong Romanization: yig⁶
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /jɪk̚²/
- (Taishanese, Taicheng)
  - Wiktionary: yet⁵
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /jet̚³²/
Hakka
- (Northern Sixian, incl. Miaoli)
  - Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: yi̍t
  - Hakka Romanization System: id
  - Hagfa Pinyim: yid⁶
  - Sinological IPA: /it̚⁵/
- (Southern Sixian, incl. Meinong)
  - Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: yi̍t
  - Hakka Romanization System: (r)id
  - Hagfa Pinyim: yid⁶
  - Sinological IPA: /(j)it̚⁵/
Eastern Min
- (Fuzhou)
  - Bàng-uâ-cê: ĭk
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /iʔ⁵/
Southern Min
- (Hokkien: Xiamen, Zhangzhou, General Taiwanese)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: e̍k
  - Tâi-lô: i̍k
  - Phofsit Daibuun: ek
  - IPA (Xiamen, Taipei, Kaohsiung): /iɪk̚⁴/
  - IPA (Zhangzhou): /iɪk̚¹²¹/
- (Hokkien: Quanzhou)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: ia̍k
  - Tâi-lô: ia̍k
  - Phofsit Daibuun: iak
  - IPA (Quanzhou): /iak̚²⁴/
- (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, General Taiwanese)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: ia̍h
  - Tâi-lô: ia̍h
  - Phofsit Daibuun: iah
  - IPA (Quanzhou): /iaʔ²⁴/
  - IPA (Xiamen, Taipei, Kaohsiung): /iaʔ⁴/
  - IPA (Zhangzhou): /iaʔ¹²¹/

Note:

e̍k/ia̍k - literary;
ia̍h - colloquial (only as a surname or when referring to 易經).

(Teochew)
- Peng'im: êg⁸ / iah⁸
- Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: e̍k / ia̍h
- Sinological IPA ^(key): /ek̚⁴/, /iaʔ⁴/

Note:

êg8 - literary;
iah8 - colloquial (only as a surname or when referring to 易經).

Wu
- (Shanghai):
  - Wugniu: ⁸yiq
  - MiniDict: yih^入
  - Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai): ⁵hhiq
  - Sinological IPA (Shanghai): /ɦiɪʔ¹²/

Middle Chinese: yek

Rime
Character	易
Reading #	2/2
Initial (聲)	以 (36)
Final (韻)	清 (123)
Tone (調)	Checked (Ø)
Openness (開合)	Open
Division (等)	III
Fanqie	羊益切
Baxter	yek
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/jiᴇk̚/
Pan Wuyun	/jiɛk̚/
Shao Rongfen	/iæk̚/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/jiajk̚/
Li Rong	/iɛk̚/
Wang Li	/jĭɛk̚/
Bernard Karlgren	/i̯ɛk̚/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	yì
Expected Cantonese Reflex	jik⁶

Old Chinese
(Baxter–Sagart): /*lek/

(Zhengzhang): /*leɡ/

Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character	易
Reading #	2/2
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)	yì
Middle Chinese	‹ yek ›
Old Chinese	/*lek/
English	change; exchange
Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. * as coda may in fact be -t or -p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary.

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	易
Reading #	2/2
No.	15034
Phonetic component	易
Rime group	錫
Rime subdivision	0
Corresponding MC rime	繹
Old Chinese	/*leɡ/
Notes	甲文象斟酒，表易器而賜

Definitions

易

^† Original form of 賜／赐 (cì, “to give; to bestow”).
to exchange; to interchange
to change; to alter; to modify
Short for 易經／易经 (Yìjīng, “I Ching”).
a surname

Compounds

Descendants

→ Thai: แลก (lɛ̂ɛk)

Etymology 2

simp. and trad.		易

From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *lwa(ː)j (“easy”). Cognate with Burmese လွယ် (lwai, “easy”).

Pronunciation

Mandarin
(Pinyin): yì (yi⁴)

(Zhuyin): ㄧˋ
Cantonese
(Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): ji⁶

(Taishan, Wiktionary): yi⁵
Hakka (Sixian, PFS): yi
Eastern Min (BUC): ê
Southern Min
(Hokkien, POJ): ī

(Teochew, Peng'im): i⁶
Wu (Wugniu)
- (Northern): ⁶yi

Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Hanyu Pinyin: yì
  - Zhuyin: ㄧˋ
  - Tongyong Pinyin: yì
  - Wade–Giles: i⁴
  - Yale: yì
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: yih
  - Palladius: и (i)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /i⁵¹/
Cantonese
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)⁺
  - Jyutping: ji⁶
  - Yale: yih
  - Cantonese Pinyin: ji⁶
  - Guangdong Romanization: yi⁶
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /jiː²²/
- (Taishanese, Taicheng)
  - Wiktionary: yi⁵
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /ji³²/
Hakka
- (Northern Sixian, incl. Miaoli)
  - Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: yi
  - Hakka Romanization System: i
  - Hagfa Pinyim: yi⁴
  - Sinological IPA: /i⁵⁵/
- (Southern Sixian, incl. Meinong)
  - Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: yi
  - Hakka Romanization System: (r)i
  - Hagfa Pinyim: yi⁴
  - Sinological IPA: /(j)i⁵⁵/
Eastern Min
- (Fuzhou)
  - Bàng-uâ-cê: ê
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /ɛi²⁴²/
Southern Min
- (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, Jinjiang, General Taiwanese)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: ī
  - Tâi-lô: ī
  - Phofsit Daibuun: i
  - IPA (Taipei, Kaohsiung): /i³³/
  - IPA (Quanzhou, Jinjiang): /i⁴¹/
  - IPA (Xiamen, Zhangzhou): /i²²/
- (Teochew)
  - Peng'im: i⁶
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: ĭ
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /i³⁵/
Wu
- (Shanghai):
  - Wugniu: ⁶yi
  - MiniDict: yi^去
  - Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai): ³hhi
  - Sinological IPA (Shanghai): /ɦi²³/

Middle Chinese: yeH

Rime
Character	易
Reading #	1/2
Initial (聲)	以 (36)
Final (韻)	支 (11)
Tone (調)	Departing (H)
Openness (開合)	Open
Division (等)	III
Fanqie	以豉切
Baxter	yeH
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/jiᴇ^H/
Pan Wuyun	/jiɛ^H/
Shao Rongfen	/jɛ^H/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/jiə̆^H/
Li Rong	/ie^H/
Wang Li	/jǐe^H/
Bernard Karlgren	/ie̯^H/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	yì
Expected Cantonese Reflex	ji⁶

Old Chinese
(Baxter–Sagart): /*lek-s/

(Zhengzhang): /*leːɡs/

Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character	易
Reading #	1/2
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)	yì
Middle Chinese	‹ ye^H ›
Old Chinese	/*lek-s/
English	easy
Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. * as coda may in fact be -t or -p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary.

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	易
Reading #	1/2
No.	15029
Phonetic component	易
Rime group	賜
Rime subdivision	0
Corresponding MC rime	易
Old Chinese	/*leːɡs/

Definitions

易

easy; simple; not difficult
Antonym: 難／难
gentle; kind
effortless; prone to
easily; effortlessly

Synonyms

Dialectal synonyms of 容易 (“easy”)

Variety	Location	Words edit
Classical Chinese		易₂
Formal (Written Standard Chinese)		容易
Mandarin	Beijing	容易
	Taiwan	容易
	Jinan	容易
	Xi'an	容易
	Wuhan	容易, 撇脫, 撩撇
	Chengdu	容易, 撇脫
	Guilin	容易
	Yangzhou	容易, 便當
	Hefei	容易
	Singapore	容易
Cantonese	Guangzhou	容易, 易₂
	Hong Kong	容易, 易₂
	Yangjiang	易容
	Kuala Lumpur (Guangfu)	線能
	Singapore (Guangfu)	易₂
Gan	Nanchang	容易
Hakka	Meixian	容易
	Miaoli (N. Sixian)	容易, 該
	Pingtung (Neipu; S. Sixian)	容易
	Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu)	容易, 該
	Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu)	容易, 該
	Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping)	容易, 該
	Yunlin (Lunbei; Zhao'an)	快
Jin	Taiyuan	容易
Northern Min	Jian'ou	容易
Eastern Min	Fuzhou	容易, 易₃
Southern Min	Xiamen	易₃, 快便
	Quanzhou	易₃
	Singapore (Hokkien)	易₃
	Manila (Hokkien)	易₃
	Chaozhou	易₃
	Singapore (Teochew)	易₃
Wu	Suzhou	便當
Wu	Wenzhou	便當, 便, 容易
Xiang	Changsha	易得
Xiang	Shuangfeng	易得, 容易

Compounds

Descendants

→ Vietnamese: dễ

Etymology 3

simp. and trad.		易
alternative forms		噲／哙慧

Possibly from 慧 (OC *ɡʷeːds) (Li Ru-long, 2002).

Pronunciation

Eastern Min (BUC): giê
Southern Min
(Hokkien, POJ): kōe

(Teochew, Peng'im): goi⁷ / ghoi⁷

Eastern Min
- (Fuzhou)
  - Bàng-uâ-cê: giê
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /kiɛ²⁴²/
Southern Min
- (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, Jinjiang, Philippines)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: kōe
  - Tâi-lô: kuē
  - Phofsit Daibuun: koe
  - IPA (Xiamen): /kue²²/
  - IPA (Quanzhou, Jinjiang, Philippines): /kue⁴¹/
- (Teochew)
  - Peng'im: goi⁷ / ghoi⁷
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: kōi / gōi
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /koi¹¹/, /ɡoi¹¹/

Definitions

易

(Min) easy; not difficult

Synonyms

Dialectal synonyms of 容易 (“easy”)

Variety	Location	Words edit
Classical Chinese		易₂
Formal (Written Standard Chinese)		容易
Mandarin	Beijing	容易
	Taiwan	容易
	Jinan	容易
	Xi'an	容易
	Wuhan	容易, 撇脫, 撩撇
	Chengdu	容易, 撇脫
	Guilin	容易
	Yangzhou	容易, 便當
	Hefei	容易
	Singapore	容易
Cantonese	Guangzhou	容易, 易₂
	Hong Kong	容易, 易₂
	Yangjiang	易容
	Kuala Lumpur (Guangfu)	線能
	Singapore (Guangfu)	易₂
Gan	Nanchang	容易
Hakka	Meixian	容易
	Miaoli (N. Sixian)	容易, 該
	Pingtung (Neipu; S. Sixian)	容易
	Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu)	容易, 該
	Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu)	容易, 該
	Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping)	容易, 該
	Yunlin (Lunbei; Zhao'an)	快
Jin	Taiyuan	容易
Northern Min	Jian'ou	容易
Eastern Min	Fuzhou	容易, 易₃
Southern Min	Xiamen	易₃, 快便
	Quanzhou	易₃
	Singapore (Hokkien)	易₃
	Manila (Hokkien)	易₃
	Chaozhou	易₃
	Singapore (Teochew)	易₃
Wu	Suzhou	便當
Wu	Wenzhou	便當, 便, 容易
Xiang	Changsha	易得
Xiang	Shuangfeng	易得, 容易