轶 (yì): to surpass; to excel

Meanings

传记里记了几则大师的轶事。

Zhuànjì lǐ jì le jǐ zé dàshī de yìshì.

The biography records several anecdotes about the master.

他的才华超轶同辈。

Tā de cáihuá chāoyì tóngbèi.

His talent surpassed that of his contemporaries.

usage

Most common in 轶事 (anecdote; an untold or 'lost' story about someone) and 轶闻 (little-known tale). The 'surpass' sense, as in 超轶, is literary.

radical

车 chē

cart; vehicle

The cart radical recalls the original image of one chariot overtaking another from behind, the source of the 'surpass' meaning.

phonetic

失 shī

to lose

Carries the sound: 失 shifts to yì here. Its meaning 'to lose' also chimes with the 'lost / scattered writings' sense of the character.

轶 yì