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侑 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
yòuhelp, assist, repay kindnessg, 8 strokes, radical 亻, Very Hard
yòuurge to eatunknown, 8 strokes, radical 亻, Very Hard
yòu(you4) T4
  1. 1help, assist, repay kindness
  2. 2urge to eat
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March 24, 2026
yòu(you4)

The character 侑 (yòu) primarily means to help or assist, often in the context of repaying kindness or offering support. It can also imply urging someone to eat, reflecting a cultural emphasis on hospitality and care for others' well-being. Its usage is often found in formal or literary contexts.

Strokes8RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the act of urging someone to eat is often seen as a demonstration of care and hospitality, reflecting the importance of communal meals and social bonding.

Memory Tip

Imagine a kind helper (the character 侑) urging their friend to eat delicious food. The left side, 亻 (person), signifies a human element, while the right side, 由, suggests the idea of 'following' or 'leading' someone to a good meal or assistance.

Meanings of 侑

yòu(you4)
1help, assist, repay kindness
2urge to eat
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 侑

Simplified
8Strokes
Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 侑

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AI Study Notes for 侑

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a kind helper (the character 侑) urging their friend to eat delicious food. The left side, 亻 (person), signifies a human element, while the right side, 由, suggests the idea of 'following' or 'leading' someone to a good meal or assistance.

Usage Notes

Be cautious not to confuse 侑 with similar-sounding characters. It is often used in formal contexts, so avoid using it in casual conversations. Common collocations include phrases involving kindness or assistance, such as 侑助 (to assist).

HSK Study Tips

Although 侑 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects with other characters related to assistance and support. Focus on understanding its nuances by comparing it with more common characters like 帮 (bāng) and 助 (zhù) for practical usage.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the act of urging someone to eat is often seen as a demonstration of care and hospitality, reflecting the importance of communal meals and social bonding.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 侑 with the more common 帮, leading to sentences like '我侑你' (I help you), which should be corrected to '我帮你'. Additionally, it's important to use it in appropriate contexts, as it can sound overly formal in casual settings.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 侑

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Etymology of 侑

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

Decomposition of 侑

IDS Structure⿰亻有
Full Character
=
ren2
left
you3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 侑?

Write 侑

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

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Cultural Notes for 侑

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, the act of urging someone to eat is often seen as a demonstration of care and hospitality, reflecting the importance of communal meals and social bonding.

Word Family of 侑

Words Containing This Character1
yòu(literary) to urge sb (to eat or drink)
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 侑 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 侑

侑 emphasizes the aspect of repaying kindness or offering help in a more formal context, while 帮 is a more casual term for helping.