Level 1 · Unit 4 Family & People

How to Write 爷 (yé)

Meaning: "Grandfather (paternal)"
Step-by-Step Stroke Order Diagram
Loading stroke data...
🖨️ Print Practice Sheet for This Word

Detailed Mastery Guide for 爷

The character 爷 (Traditional: 爺) is a fundamental part of the Chinese language, representing "Grandfather (paternal)". In our Level 1 curriculum, we focus on the 13-step stroke sequence to ensure your handwriting is both fast and accurate.

Writing & Recognition

Proper stroke order is essential for character recognition and legibility. By following the animation above, you can see how the character is built from top to bottom and left to right. This character is often categorized under Family & People, making it a versatile addition to your vocabulary.

Key Vocabulary

爷爷 yéye je4je4
paternal grandfather
大爷 dàye daai6je4
uncle or respectful term for an elderly man

Radical Breakdown

Breaking it down: The character 爷 is built on the radical Father 88. Understanding radicals like this is a proven technique for accelerating vocabulary acquisition.

Etymology & Origins

Phono-semantic compound: 父 (father) provides the phonetic and semantic hint of male relative, while ? (yé) acts as the phonetic component.

Example Sentence

Simplified: 爷爷正在公园里散步。

Yéye zhèngzài gōngyuán lǐ sànbù.

Traditional: 爺爺正在公園裡散步。

Je4je4 zing3zoi6 gung1jyun4 lei5 saan3bou6.

"Grandfather is taking a walk in the park."

Dialect Pronunciation

In Mandarin, this character is pronounced as yé. If you are learning Cantonese, the pronunciation is je4. Use the audio buttons to hear the subtle tonal differences between the two major Chinese dialects.

Practice & Retention

To move this character from short-term to long-term memory, we recommend using our free practice sheet generator. Writing the character 10-15 times while following the correct sequence is a proven method for mastery.

Quick Self-Check

What is the meaning of '爷'?

A) Paternal grandfather
B) Younger brother
C) Mother
D) Teacher

Other Characters in Level 1 Unit 4

Hope this tool helps your Chinese learning journey!

We built this site to ensure everyone has access to free stroke order visualizers without annoying paywalls or trial limits. If you find it helpful, supporting us on Ko-fi helps keep the site running!

☕ Support Us on Ko-fi