HSK 6, unknown, 7 strokes, radical 忄, rank #13003, Hard
yōu(you1) T1
1to worry
2to concern oneself with
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March 24, 2026
忧(憂)yōu(you1)
The character 忧 (yōu) means to worry or feel concerned about something. It is often used in contexts involving anxiety, sorrow, or grief, particularly in relation to personal concerns or the well-being of others. This character can also refer to mourning, especially in the context of a parent's funeral, which adds a cultural layer to its meaning.
Strokes7Radical忄Frequency#13003DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the character 忧 is closely associated with filial piety, reflecting the deep respect and concern one has for their parents, particularly in times of loss or mourning. It captures the societal expectation to show grief and care for family.
Memory Tip
Imagine a worried parent (忧) holding their head in their hands, symbolizing sorrow and concern. The left side of the character (忄) represents 'heart', emphasizing emotional distress, while the right side (尤) can be visualized as a person feeling overwhelmed by their worries.
Meanings of 忧
yōu(you1)
1to worry
2to concern oneself with
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 忧
忧Simplified
憂Traditional
7Strokes
忄Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#13003Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6
Podcast: 忧
Podcast: 忧
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AI Study Notes for 忧
Quick Contrast
忧 (yōu) vs 担心 (dān xīn) — use 忧 (yōu) for deeper emotional concerns or sorrow, while 担心 (dān xīn) is more general worry.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a worried parent (忧) holding their head in their hands, symbolizing sorrow and concern. The left side of the character (忄) represents 'heart', emphasizing emotional distress, while the right side (尤) can be visualized as a person feeling overwhelmed by their worries.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 忧 with other characters that express sadness or worry, such as 哀 (āi) or 惊 (jīng). It typically carries a more profound sense of concern or grief, so use it in serious contexts rather than casual ones. Also, be mindful of the tone; saying it with the wrong tone can change its meaning.
HSK Study Tips
Although 忧 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it shares themes with other HSK words related to emotions, such as 开心 (kāixīn) for 'happy' or 悲伤 (bēishāng) for 'sad'. Students should focus on its nuances compared to these other emotional terms.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the character 忧 is closely associated with filial piety, reflecting the deep respect and concern one has for their parents, particularly in times of loss or mourning. It captures the societal expectation to show grief and care for family.
Common Mistakes
Learners might confuse 忧 with similar-sounding words like 优 (yōu), which means 'excellent'. For example, saying '我很优' (wǒ hěn yōu) to mean 'I am very worried' is incorrect; the correct phrase would be '我很忧' (wǒ hěn yōu).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 忧
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Grammar Patterns of 忧
忧 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 9 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.
The carefree days of childhood are truly something to miss.
Example Sentences for 忧 (10)
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1
我们的生活虽然并非锦衣玉食，也算是衣食无忧。
wǒ mén de shēng huó suī rán bìng fēi jǐn yī yù shí， ， yě suàn shì yī shí wú。
We don't live in the lap of luxury, but we're comfortable.
2
有些段落他演奏得异常徐缓，听上去有些忧伤。
yǒu xiē duàn luò tā yǎn zòu dé yì cháng xú huǎn， ， tīng shàng qù yǒu xiē yōu。
He plays some passages so slowly that they become lugubrious.
3
他最初面对媒体时情绪有点忧郁。
tā zuì chū miàn duì méi tǐ shí qíng xù yǒu diǎn yōu yù。
He faced the press, initially, in a somewhat subdued mood.
4
他们碰见她独自一人神色忧郁地走在海滩上。
tā mén pèng jiàn tā dú zì yī rén shén sè yōu yù dì zǒu zài hǎi tān shàng。
They found her walking alone and depressed on the beach.
5
我已经不是他记忆中那个似乎永远快乐无忧的人了。
wǒ yǐ jīng bù shì tā jì yì zhōng nà gè sì hū yǒng yuǎn kuài lè wú yōu de rén le。
I'm no longer the apparently eternally cheerful chappy he remembers.
6
那个女孩是他的幻觉，是他那忧郁不安的头脑妄想出来的。
nà gè nǚ hái shì tā de huàn jué， ， shì tā nà yōu yù bù ān de tóu nǎo wàng xiǎng chū lái。
The girl was a mirage, cast up by his troubled mind.
7
我们的治疗师会教你如何消除心中的忧虑。
wǒ mén de zhì liáo shī huì jiào nǐ rú hé xiāo chú xīn zhōng de yōu lǜ。
Our therapists will show you how to clear your mind of worries.
8
对总统安全的担忧可能会给他的调解使命蒙上阴影。
duì zǒng tǒng ān quán de dān yōu kě néng huì gěi tā de tiáo jiě shǐ mìng mēng shàng yīn yǐng。
Fears for the President's safety could overshadow his peace-making mission.
9
这种报道势必会引发忧虑。
zhè zhǒng bào dào shì bì huì yǐn fā yōu lǜ。
Reports of this kind are guaranteed to cause anxiety.
10
无后顾之忧而能提早退休当是件幸事。
wú hòu gù zhī yōu ér néng tí zǎo tuì xiū dāng shì jiàn xìng shì。
It would be nice to be able to afford to retire earlier.
Cultural Notes for 忧
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the character 忧 is closely associated with filial piety, reflecting the deep respect and concern one has for their parents, particularly in times of loss or mourning. It captures the societal expectation to show grief and care for family.
Word Family of 忧
Words Containing This Character20
担忧dānyōuto worry擔憂
忧郁yōuyùsullen憂鬱
忧伤distressed憂傷
忧yōuto worry憂
忧虑yōulǜto worry憂慮
忧愁yōuchóuto be worried憂愁
无忧无虑wúyōuwúlǜcarefree and without worries (idiom)無憂無慮
忧心忡忡deeply worried and sick at heart (idiom)憂心忡忡
后顾之忧hòugùzhīyōuworries about the future consequences後顧之憂
忧心concerned憂心
高枕无忧to sleep peacefully (idiom)高枕無憂
杞人忧天man of Qǐ fears the sky falling (idiom); groundless fears杞人憂天
排忧解难to resolve a difficult situation and leave worries behind (idiom)排憂解難
堪忧worrying堪憂
喜忧参半to have mixed feelings (about sth)喜憂參半
隐忧secret concern隱憂
分忧to share tribulations分憂
烦忧to worry煩憂
忧郁症(psychology) depression憂鬱症
忧患suffering憂患
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 担忧 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 忧
While both express sadness, 忧 (yōu) focuses more on worry and concern, whereas 悲 (bēi) is more about sorrow and grief.
Yes, but it is more common in literary or formal contexts, especially when discussing serious issues.
