乂
yì
to regulate
to govern; to control; to mow
a picture of 乂 → two crossing strokes, like blades pruning and governing
The character shows two strokes crossing like scissor blades or a mowing tool — cutting away what is unruly. That image of trimming back disorder extends naturally to regulating and governing.
丿A leftward falling strokeSemantic
古代圣王以乂天下，使百姓安居。
gǔ dài shèng wáng yǐ yì tiān xià， shǐ bǎi xìng ān jū。
Ancient sage-kings governed the realm, allowing the common people to live in peace.
他读到「乂安四方」，才明白此字有治理之意。
tā dú dào 'yì ān sì fāng'， cái míng bái cǐ zì yǒu zhì lǐ zhī yì。
He read the phrase 'regulate and pacify all directions' and only then understood that this character carries the meaning of governing.