乛

yǐ

radical variant

Meanings

1 horizontal second radical (variant of 乙)
2 top form of the second radical, Kangxi #5

Tips

usage

乛 is the top-position partner of the right-side variant 乚 - both encode positional forms of Kangxi radical #5 (乙). Visually, 乛 is a near-flat horizontal ending in a small downward hook; 乚 sits below, more vertical. Same parent, different slot. Never written alone.

history

Exact origin uncertain in detail - 乛 is the calligraphic flattening of 乙 when the radical caps another component. The single stroke matches the basic stroke named héngzhé (horizontal-turn) in stroke-order pedagogy and is one of the building blocks beginners learn early.

usage

Used as the top stroke in 习 (practice), 了 (completion particle), 飞 (fly), 也 (also). Recognize the cap-with-hook shape as the 乙 family's top form.

Radical

Second Kangxi #5

The 乙 radical, pictographic of a coiled or curving shape. Indexes characters whose body is built from a hooked curve (九, 也, 乱, 乳). Productivity is low, but the slot survives because the curve is hard to classify under any other radical.

Forms

乙 yǐ

Default 5 characters

乛 yǐ

Top 1 characters

乚 yǐ

Right 5 characters

Used in

Showing 1 of 1 · top form 乛 of 乙

卫 wèi

to guard; to protect; to defend · guardian; defense

Stroke Order