乙 (yǐ) - Second & second in order or rank

乙Tone 3

yǐ ｜ 1 stroke ｜ radical: 乙

一懿

乙 · yǐ

Second;

second in order or rank;

the second of the ten Heavenly Stems (天干);

used as a substitute or symbol for 'second'.

Secondsecond in order or rankthe second of the ten Heavenly Stems (天干)

Usage highlights

Second classParty BEthanolAcetyleneEthene/EthyleneSecond division

Synonyms

  • 次— second, next in order
  • 第二— the second

Antonyms

  • 甲— first, the first of the Heavenly Stems

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He got a B grade (乙等).
  • This is the second edition (乙版).
  • The contract is in duplicate, marked A and B (甲、乙两份).
  • Ethanol is known as alcohol (乙醇).

Collocations

  • Second class(乙等)
  • Party B(乙方)
  • Ethanol(乙醇)
  • Acetylene(乙炔)
  • Ethene/Ethylene(乙烯)
  • Second division(乙级)

Idioms

  • To be relegated to second place(屈居人乙)
  • To fail the imperial exams(名落孙乙)
  • The distinction between A and B(甲乙之辨)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • One of the ten Heavenly Stems (天干), used in the traditional Chinese calendar system and for sequencing.
  • Historically used in imperial examinations to denote the second rank of successful candidates.
  • In modern contexts, commonly used to denote 'second' or 'Party B' in contracts and classifications.