翼
yì
Meaning
wing, soaring
Five Elements
metal
Gender
Male
Strokes
17
Meaning & Cultural Context
翼 is deeply rooted in Chinese mythology and classical literature, most famously appearing in Zhuangzi's 'Peng Bird' (鹏) parable where the legendary bird has wings '翼若垂天之云' (wings like clouds spanning the sky). In ancient Chinese, 翼 also referred to imperial guards—the 'Wings of the Emperor'—who protected the sovereign, giving the character connotations of protection, loyalty, and elite status.
Using in Chinese Names
Chinese parents choose 翼 for sons when they hope their child will soar to great heights and achieve extraordinary success. The character conveys aspirations of freedom, ambition, and breaking through limitations. It pairs beautifully with characters like 翔 (soar), 鹏 (mythical bird), or 飞 (fly), creating names that literally mean 'to take flight' or 'wings of a legendary bird.'
Personality & Impression
This character suggests someone with ambitious dreams, a free-spirited nature, and the drive to rise above ordinary circumstances—a natural leader who aims for the pinnacle of success.
For Foreigners
For non-Chinese speakers, 翼 is pronounced 'yee' with a falling tone. It's an excellent choice for boys' names as it sounds strong and masculine while carrying beautiful imagery of flight and aspiration.
Style & Personality
Popular Name Combinations
Common two-character names that include 翼:
wing, soaring, world, generation, era
traditional, poetic
wing, soaring, career, achievement
traditional, poetic
wing, soaring, east, rising direction
traditional, poetic
wing, soaring, abundant, fruitful, plentiful
traditional, poetic
wing, soaring, joy, music, happiness
traditional, poetic
wing, soaring, tall, lofty (name classic)
traditional, poetic
wing, soaring, cloud, freedom, dreamlike
traditional, poetic
wing, soaring, great, mighty, magnificent
traditional, poetic
Build a Chinese Name With 翼
If you like the character 翼 (yì - wing, soaring), you can use it as the starting point for a personalized Chinese name.
Create My Chinese Name with 翼