adjective / noun HSK 4
wild · uncultivated · field · countryside · unrestrained

Meaning

primarily means 'wild' or 'uncultivated,' describing things in their natural, untamed state. It can refer to wild animals, wild plants, or open fields and countryside. The character also carries connotations of being unrefined, rough, or unrestrained in behavior.

Usage

frequently appears in compound words related to nature and wilderness. When describing people or behavior, it can suggest being rough, unrefined, or lacking manners. Common in both formal and informal contexts, especially when discussing outdoor settings, wildlife, or contrasting cultivated versus natural environments.

Examples

  1. 01
    这些花真漂亮。
    Zhèxiē yěhuā zhēn piàoliang.
    These wild flowers are really beautiful.
  2. 02
    周末我们去外露营了。
    Zhōumò wǒmen yěwài lùyíng le.
    We went camping outdoors over the weekend.

Common collocations

  • yěcān
    picnic
  • yěxīn
    ambition, wild ambition
  • shìyě
    field of vision, perspective
  • yěmán
    barbaric, savage

Antonyms

Origin

The character combines the radical 里 (village/settlement) with 予 (to give), originally depicting land outside the village boundaries—the uncultivated fields and wilderness beyond human habitation.

Related