Ferroelectric YMnO$_3$ thin films were etched with Ar/C1$_2$ and CF$_4$/C1$_2$ Plasma. The maximum etch rate of YMnO$_3$ thin film was 300 $AA$/min at a Cl$_2$/Ar gas mixing ratio of 8/2, an RF power of 800 W, a do bias of-200 V, a chamber pressure of 15 mTorr, and a substrate temperature of 3$0^{circ}C$. From the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis, yttrium was not only etched by chemical reactions with Cl atoms, but also assisted by Ar ion bombardments in Ar/C1$_2$ plasma. In CF$_4$/C1$_2$ plasma, yttrium formed nonvolatile YF$_{x}$ compounds and remained on and the etched surface of YMnO$_3$. Manganese etched effectively by forming volatile MnCl$_{x}$ and MnF$_{y}$. From the X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, the (0004) diffraction peak intensity of the YMnO$_3$ thin film etched in Ar/Cl$_2$ plasma shows lower than that in CF$_4$/Cl$_2$ plasma. It indicates that the crystallinty of the YMnO$_3$ thin film is more easily damaged by the Af ion bombardment than the changes of stoichiometry due to nonvolatile etch by-products.cts.s.