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虞 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
虞yúanxious, concerned, worriednr, 13 strokes, radical 虍, rank #35068, Very Hard
虞yúsurname Yuunknown, 13 strokes, radical 虍, rank #35068, Very Hard
虞yúto anticipateunknown, 13 strokes, radical 虍, rank #35068, Very Hard
虞yúto worryunknown, 13 strokes, radical 虍, rank #35068, Very Hard
虞yúto cheatunknown, 13 strokes, radical 虍, rank #35068, Very Hard
yú(Yu2) T2
  1. 1anxious, concerned, worried
  2. 2to anticipate
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
虞yú(Yu2)

The character 虞 (yú) conveys a sense of anxiety or concern, often associated with worry about future events. It can also refer to anticipating something, whether positively or negatively. In addition to its emotional connotations, it is used as a surname in Chinese culture.

Strokes13Radical虍Frequency#35068DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

The character 虞 can be found in classical Chinese literature and poetry, where themes of worry and anticipation are prevalent, reflecting the importance of emotional expression in Chinese culture.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person with a worried expression (虞) as they anticipate a challenging situation. The radical '虍' resembles a tiger, symbolizing danger, while '余' can suggest 'remaining' or 'leftover,' hinting at lingering worries.

Meanings of 虞

yú(Yu2)
1anxious, concerned, worried
2to anticipate
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 虞

虞Simplified
13Strokes
虍Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 虞

JasonAmy

Podcast: 虞

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 虞

Quick Contrast

忧 (yōu) - use 虞 when referring to a broader sense of anxiety or concern about future events, while 忧 specifically emphasizes deep worry or sorrow.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a person with a worried expression (虞) as they anticipate a challenging situation. The radical '虍' resembles a tiger, symbolizing danger, while '余' can suggest 'remaining' or 'leftover,' hinting at lingering worries.

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include confusing 虞 with similar characters like 余 (yú) or 您 (nín), which have different meanings. It's used more in literary or formal contexts compared to casual conversations. Be careful with the tone, as this character is pronounced with a rising tone.

HSK Study Tips

While 虞 is not included in the HSK vocabulary, it can be associated with emotions and feelings, which are common themes in levels 3 and 4. Focus on its use in literary texts to understand nuances and contexts.

Cultural Note

The character 虞 can be found in classical Chinese literature and poetry, where themes of worry and anticipation are prevalent, reflecting the importance of emotional expression in Chinese culture.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 虞 with the character 余 (yú), which means 'remaining' or 'leftover.' For example, saying '我有虞' (wǒ yǒu yú) instead of '我有余' (wǒ yǒu yú) can lead to misunderstandings.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 虞

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Etymology of 虞

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

Phonosemantic compound. 虍 represents the meaning and 吴 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

tiger

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

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 虞?

Decomposition of 虞

IDS Structure⿸虍吴
虞Full Character
=
虍hu1
enclosing
吴Wu2
inner
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 虞?

Write 虞

虞

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 虞

虞 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 5 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 2

Complete the Sentence

舜帝姓姚,史称“____舜”.

Legend has it that King Shun had as his surname Yao.

Example Sentences for 虞 (1)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
舜帝姓姚,史称“虞舜”.

shùn dì xìng yáo, , shǐ“ chēng “”.

Legend has it that King Shun had as his surname Yao.

Cultural Notes for 虞

🏮Cultural insight

The character 虞 can be found in classical Chinese literature and poetry, where themes of worry and anticipation are prevalent, reflecting the importance of emotional expression in Chinese culture.

Word Family of 虞

Words Containing This Character11
虞yúto expect
尔虞我诈each tries to outwit the other爾虞我詐
上虞Shangyu county level city in Shaoxing 紹興|绍兴[Shào​xīng], Zhejiang
上虞市Shangyu county level city in Shaoxing 紹興|绍兴[Shào​xīng], Zhejiang
不虞unexpected
虞舜Yu Shun, one of Five legendary Emperors 五帝[wǔ​dì]
虞世南Yu Shi'nan (558-638), politician of Sui and early Tang periods, poet and calligrapher, one of Four Great Calligraphers of early Tang 唐初四大家[Táng​chū​Sì​Dà​jiā]
虞城县Yucheng county in Shangqiu 商丘[Shāng​qiū], Henan虞城縣
堪虞worrisome
虞城Yucheng county in Shangqiu 商丘[Shāng​qiū], Henan
虞喜Chinese astronomer (281-356) famous for determining the precession of the equinoxes
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 虞 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 虞

It can mean to worry, anticipate, or be concerned about something, as well as being a surname.