building, house, room, structure; space, the universe
HSK 5, nr, 6 strokes, radical 宀, rank #9196, Hard
yǔ(yu3) T3
1room
2universe
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
宇yǔ(yu3)
The character 宇 (yǔ) primarily refers to a 'room' or 'space', but it can also denote the 'universe' or 'building'. It is commonly used in contexts relating to architecture or expansive concepts, emphasizing both physical structures and the vastness of space.
Strokes6Radical宀Frequency#9196DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of the universe (宇宙) is often tied to philosophical ideas about harmony and balance, which are central to Chinese cosmology. This reflects a deep connection between the physical world and broader existential questions.
Memory Tip
Think of 宇 (yǔ) as a house (宀) with a spacious sky (宇) above it. Imagine standing in a room (the 'house' part) looking up at the expansive universe (the 'sky' part), which helps you remember both the meaning of space and its pronunciation.
Meanings of 宇
yǔ(yu3)
1room
2universe
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 宇
宇Simplified
6Strokes
宀Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#9196Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5
Podcast: 宇
Podcast: 宇
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AI Study Notes for 宇
Memory Mnemonic
Think of 宇 (yǔ) as a house (宀) with a spacious sky (宇) above it. Imagine standing in a room (the 'house' part) looking up at the expansive universe (the 'sky' part), which helps you remember both the meaning of space and its pronunciation.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 宇 (yǔ) with other similar-sounding characters. It's a formal term that may be used in literary contexts, but it can also appear in everyday language, especially in discussions about architecture or cosmology. Common phrases include 宇宙 (yǔzhòu - universe).
HSK Study Tips
While 宇 (yǔ) is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it relates well to other words about space and architecture. Students should focus on its components and how it connects with terms like 宇宙 (yǔzhòu) to enhance their understanding of both everyday and abstract concepts.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of the universe (宇宙) is often tied to philosophical ideas about harmony and balance, which are central to Chinese cosmology. This reflects a deep connection between the physical world and broader existential questions.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 宇 (yǔ) with 余 (yú), which means 'surplus' or 'remaining', due to similar pronunciation. Remember, 宇 relates to space and structure, while 余 focuses on excess.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 宇
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Grammar Patterns of 宇
宇 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
早期的天文学家认为我们的星球是____宙的中心。
Early astronomers thought that our planet was the centre of the universe.
Example Sentences for 宇 (10)
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1
早期的天文学家认为我们的星球是宇宙的中心。
zǎo qī de tiān wén xué jiā rèn wéi wǒ mén de xīng qiú shì yǔ zhòu de zhōng xīn。
Early astronomers thought that our planet was the centre of the universe.
2
载人宇宙飞行的前景看上去充满了越来越多的变数。
zǎi rén yǔ zhòu fēi háng de qián jǐng kàn shàng qù chōng mǎn le yuè lái yuè duō de biàn shù。
The future for manned space flight is looking increasingly uncertain.
Microseconds later the universe inflated to become billions of miles wide.
10
马天宇2008最新造型非常帅!
mǎ tiān yǔ2008 2008 zuì xīn zào xíng fēi cháng!
Extraordinary Ma Tian Yu 2008 up - to - date model chief commanders!
Cultural Notes for 宇
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of the universe (宇宙) is often tied to philosophical ideas about harmony and balance, which are central to Chinese cosmology. This reflects a deep connection between the physical world and broader existential questions.
Word Family of 宇
Compounds1
荢
Words Containing This Character14
宇宙yǔzhòuuniverse
宇yǔroom
宇航员yǔhángyuánastronaut宇航員
李宇春Li Yuchun aka Chris Lee (1984-), Chinese pop singer
宇航局space agency
宇宙飞船spacecraft宇宙飛船
楼宇building樓宇
宇航space flight
庙宇temple廟宇
宇文two-character surname Yuwen
大宇Daewoo (Korean conglomerate)
吴镇宇Francis Ng Chun-Yu (1961-), Hong Kong actor吳鎮宇
寰宇the whole earth
宇航服spacesuit
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 宇宙 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 宇
宇 refers to a broader concept of space or room and can imply a sense of grandeur, while 房子 specifically means 'house' or 'building', focusing on the physical structure.
It is often found in compound words like 宇宙 (yǔzhòu - universe) and is less frequently used alone in conversation.
