谊 (yì) — Friendship
Single-character Chinese tattoo · verified meaning · friendship held dear
Browse all 谊 glyphs ↗Meaning & Nuance
谊 (yì) means friendship or a bond of affection — a warm, principled connection between people. It is the 'righteous' side of friendship, implying loyalty and care, not merely acquaintance. It differs from 朋 (péng, friend) in being about the depth of the bond rather than the friend themselves.
Pronunciation & Form
Pinyin: yì — a fourth tone (falling) syllable, dropping cleanly from mid to low.
Common Words & Phrases
Why Get 谊 as a Tattoo
谊 is a tattoo of chosen family — the friends who became kin. It reads as 'friendship' and is a heartfelt mark for best friends or chosen siblings. People choose 谊 to honor a bond that outlasted distance, time, or circumstance.
Tattoo Style & Placement
Fine-line, script, or soft-brush styles. Placements: wrist, forearm, collarbone, or ankle. Small and warm works best.
Authenticity & Cultural Note
Always confirm the character with a native speaker or linguist before inking. 谊 sounds like 宜 (yí, suitable) and 义 (yì, righteousness) and is easily confused by machine translation; a native-verified 谊 reads unambiguously as 'friendship.' handmade.ink meanings are checked by native Chinese linguists so your ink says exactly what you intend.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Chinese character 谊 mean?
How do you pronounce 谊?
Is 谊 a good friendship tattoo?
What words use the character 谊?
How is 谊 different from 朋?
Is 谊 related to 义 (righteousness)?