乙
The 乙 radical
Curved stroke, second
Variants: 乚 乛
Memory hook
A single bending stroke. As the second of the ten heavenly stems, 乙 also numbers things like "B". It collects characters with a hooked stroke that fit nowhere else: 九, 书, 买.
The 乙 radical (read yǐ) means curved stroke, second. The HSK 3.0 data contains 9 characters and 62 words built on it — learning them together is far faster than one character at a time.
Practise the 乙 radical
Study this radical's 62 words with flashcards or a quiz.
The free plan drills 15 words per radical. Upgrade to Premium
Characters with the 乙 radical
9 charactersHSK 1· 5 characters
HSK 1九
nine
也
also; too
习
to study, to practice
书
book
买
to buy
HSK 3· 1 characters
HSK 3乱
messy; in disorder
HSK 5· 1 characters
HSK 5乙
the second Heavenly Stem (in the Chinese cycle)
HSK 6· 1 characters
HSK 6乳
milk; breast
HSK 7-9· 1 characters
HSK 7-9乞
to beg, to plead
Vocabulary with the 乙 radical
62 wordsWords containing at least one character with the 乙 radical, ordered by HSK level.
The free plan shows 9 words per HSK level (44/62 words of this radical).
nine
also; too
book
schoolbag, backpack
bookstore
to buy
library
to study; to learn
to read, to study
perhaps; maybe
habit; custom
to review (lessons)
to intern; internship
to practice; exercise
bookshelf
messy; in disorder
to preview (a lesson); to prepare a new lesson
secretary
to purchase (more formal than 买 (mǎi))
notification letter, written notice (e.g. admission letter, summons)
the second Heavenly Stem (in the Chinese cycle)
it's okay, that's fine
bookcase
desk
calligraphy
business, trade
no longer; not anymore
agreement, contract
certificate, credential
private study, study room
dairy product
books; books and periodicals
chaos, disorder
to take extra tutoring, to give extra tutoring
instruction manual, guidebook
beggar
to beg, to plead
to beg, to beg for food
that is to say, in other words
custom, tradition
to write, to write characters
bookcase
books
clerk, secretary
Why learn vocabulary by the 乙 radical?
The 乙 radical hints at the meaning curved stroke, second. When you meet an unfamiliar character carrying it, you already know part of its meaning before reaching for a dictionary — which is why learners who know their radicals move faster.
How to study: read the memory hook, skim the 9 characters to spot the pattern, then drill the 62 words with flashcards. Spaced repetition brings each word back exactly when you need it.