乙 · yǐ

second heavenly stem; bent stroke

Radical pronunciation

Radical summary

#5

Kangxi

1

Strokes

#4

Frequency

Visual hint

A Z-shaped curve: starts horizontal, bends down, then hooks right — like a crawling snake.

Suggests bending or changing direction. Heads the 2nd Heavenly Stem (Yi).

varies

Trace the radical, simplified, traditional, and variant forms when available.

乙

2 examples

也

yě

also; too

HSK 1

乱

luàn

chaotic; disorder

HSK 4

Z-shaped curve. Found in 也 (also), 乱 (chaotic), 乾 (dry/heaven).

A snake crawling: head jutting sideways, body curving down, tail hooking right.

What radical is this: 乙?