Yi in Japanese
In Japanese, Yi is written in katakana as イー (Ii), the way Japanese people write foreign names. To write it in kanji, each sound gets a character chosen for its meaning. Our top pick is 偉 (i): “greatness”.
How Yi sounds in Japanese
Kanji for Yi
- 偉i greatnessAdmirable and great; someone whose deeds are respected.
- 唯i the only one“Only” or “one and only”; someone irreplaceable.
- 生i lifeLife, birth and growing; being fully alive.
By style
How common are these kanji in Japan?
- 偉 (greatness) is used in Japanese given names.
Yi in anime worlds
Yi as an anime character →Yi in Jujutsu Kaisen (fan-made) →Yi in Demon Slayer (fan-made) →Yi in Attack on Titan (fan-made) →Yi in Dandadan (fan-made) →
Questions about Yi in Japanese
How do you write Yi in Japanese?
Yi is written イー in katakana. Katakana is the script Japanese people use for foreign names, so this is how Yi would appear on a Japanese ID card, a café cup or a name tag.
What are the best kanji for Yi?
Our top pick is 偉 (I). 偉 means “greatness”. Other good options are 唯 (I) and 生 (I).
Is 偉 a real Japanese name?
Partly. The characters 偉 appear in Japanese names, but with the reading Isamu and Suguru rather than I. As a spelling of Yi, it is a creative kanji choice (ateji): Japanese readers will see the meaning of each character.
How many strokes is 偉?
偉 has 12 strokes. That is quite simple to write by hand, even for beginners.
Can I use 偉 as a tattoo?
Each character in 偉 has a positive meaning, so it is a reasonable choice. Keep in mind that Japanese people will read it as the meaning of the characters, not instantly as “Yi”. If you want your name to be recognized, katakana (イー) is clearer. Either way, ask a native speaker to check the final design.
Make it yours
Pick the kind of person you are (Samurai, Shinobi, Miko and more) and Nazuke chooses kanji that match your personality. You can also save your result as an image.
Names that sound similar
Yee · Eda · Ema · Eve · Ila · Ina · Isa · Iva · Yesenia · Yesica