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佑 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
yòuto help; to protect; to blesszg, 7 strokes, radical 亻, rank #12946, Hard
yòuto assistunknown, 7 strokes, radical 亻, rank #12946, Hard
yòu(you4) T4
  1. 1to help; to protect; to bless
  2. 2to assist
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
yòu(you4)

The character 佑 (yòu) means to help or protect someone, often in a benevolent or divine manner. It is commonly used in contexts related to blessings, support, and assistance, particularly in spiritual or familial relationships.

Strokes7RadicalFrequency#12946DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of blessings and protection is deeply rooted in familial ties and ancestral veneration. The phrase '上天保佑' (shàngtiān bǎoyòu - may heaven bless) is often invoked in hopes of divine protection.

Memory Tip

Imagine a guardian angel (the character 佑) hovering over a person, providing protection and help. The left part '亻' suggests a person, while the right part '尤' can be visualized as the angel spreading its wings to bless them.

Meanings of 佑

yòu(you4)
1to help; to protect; to bless
2to assist
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 佑

Simplified
7Strokes
Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 佑

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AI Study Notes for 佑

Quick Contrast

庇 (bì) — use 佑 (yòu) when referring to benevolent or divine protection, while 庇 (bì) emphasizes physical shelter or protection.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a guardian angel (the character 佑) hovering over a person, providing protection and help. The left part '亻' suggests a person, while the right part '尤' can be visualized as the angel spreading its wings to bless them.

Usage Notes

Be mindful of the context when using 佑, as it can carry a formal or spiritual tone. It's often used in religious contexts or when discussing family blessings. Common collocations include '保佑' (bǎoyòu - to protect and bless) and '佑护' (yòuhù - to assist and protect).

HSK Study Tips

Although 佑 is not included in HSK levels, it connects with other HSK vocabulary related to support and protection, such as 帮助 (bāngzhù - to help) and 保护 (bǎohù - to protect). Focus on the context of use to grasp its nuances.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of blessings and protection is deeply rooted in familial ties and ancestral veneration. The phrase '上天保佑' (shàngtiān bǎoyòu - may heaven bless) is often invoked in hopes of divine protection.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 佑 with similar-sounding characters like 有 (yǒu - to have), leading to incorrect usage in sentences. For example, saying '我佑一个朋友' (Wǒ yòu yīgè péngyǒu - I help a friend) is incorrect; it should be '我帮助一个朋友' (Wǒ bāngzhù yīgè péngyǒu).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 佑

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Etymology of 佑

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 亻 represents the meaning and 右 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

person

Semantic (meaning)
+
Phonetic (sound)
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 佑?

Decomposition of 佑

IDS Structure⿰亻右
Full Character
=
ren2
left
you4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 佑?

Write 佑

Practice writing stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 佑

佑 carries 2 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

他要是跟我作对,那就让上帝保____他吧。

God help him if he gets in my way.

Example Sentences for 佑 (5)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
他要是跟我作对,那就让上帝保佑他吧。

tā yào shì gēn wǒ zuò duì, , nà jiù ràng shàng dì bǎo yòu tā。

God help him if he gets in my way.
2
“愿上帝保佑他们吧,”他说,“谁也帮不了他们了。”

“ “ yuàn shàng dì bǎo yòu tā mén,” bā ,”,“ tā shuō ,“ shuí yě bāng bù le。”

"God help them," he said. "They're beyond help."
3
谁要娶了她就只有靠老天保佑了。

shuí yào qǔ le tā jiù zhī yǒu kào lǎo tiān bǎo yòu le。

Heaven help the man she marries.
4
我被灵活复佑的姓别与年龄索引迷惑住了.

wǒ bèi líng huó fù yòu de xìng bié yǔ nián líng suǒ yǐn mí huò zhù le.

I'm perplexed by the flexible complex index of sex and age.
5
桃还有驱邪避鬼,护佑生命的特质.

táo huán yǒu qū xié bì guǐ, , hù yòu shēng mìng de tè.

The peach have the traits of expelling evil spirits and safeguarding life.

Cultural Notes for 佑

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, the concept of blessings and protection is deeply rooted in familial ties and ancestral veneration. The phrase '上天保佑' (shàngtiān bǎoyòu - may heaven bless) is often invoked in hopes of divine protection.

Word Family of 佑

Words Containing This Character5
保佑bǎoyòublessing
yòuto assist
庇佑to bless
詹天佑Zhan Tianyou (1861-1919), Chinese railroad engineer
佑护blessing佑護
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 保佑 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 佑

Common phrases include '天佑' (tiānyòu - heaven's blessing) and '佑护' (yòuhù - to assist and protect).