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March 24, 2026
诱(誘)yòu(you4)
The character 诱 (yòu) means to entice or tempt someone into doing something, often by appealing to their desires or interests. It is commonly used in contexts involving persuasion, such as marketing or negotiations, and can carry a slightly negative connotation when it involves trickery or manipulation.
Strokes9Radical讠Frequency#14093DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of temptation is often explored in literature and folklore, where characters are frequently faced with moral dilemmas influenced by enticing offers, highlighting the importance of self-control and virtue.
Memory Tip
Imagine a magician (the radical 诱 resembles a magician's wand) enticing an audience with an irresistible trick. The 'yòu' sound can remind you of 'you,' as in 'I want to entice you with this magic show!'
Meanings of 诱
yòu(you4)
1to entice
2to tempt
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 诱
诱Simplified
誘Traditional
9Strokes
讠Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#14093Frequency Rank
Podcast: 诱
Podcast: 诱
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AI Study Notes for 诱
Quick Contrast
引 (yǐn) - use 诱 (yòu) when the focus is on enticing or tempting someone, while 引 (yǐn) emphasizes leading or guiding someone towards a certain action or place.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 诱 with similar sounding words that do not have the same meaning, such as '友' (yǒu), meaning friend. This word is typically used in informal contexts, but can also appear in formal discussions, especially in marketing or psychological contexts.
HSK Study Tips
Although 诱 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects with related terms like '诱惑' (yòuhuò), meaning temptation. Focus on the nuances of persuasion and temptation as they relate to interpersonal communication.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 诱 with 友 (yǒu), leading to incorrect usage such as saying '我诱我的朋友' (wǒ yòu wǒ de péngyǒu) when they mean 'I want to entice my friend.' The correct phrase should specify the context of temptation or persuasion.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 诱
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1The giveawayTo use elegant 秀 words 讠; 秀 also provides the pronunciation
2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 诱? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 诱?
Decomposition of 诱
IDS Structure⿰讠秀
诱Full Character
=
讠yan2
left
秀xiu4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 诱?
How to say to entice in Chinese
“to entice” in Chinese is诱yòu
The character 诱 (yòu) means to entice or tempt someone into doing something, often by appealing to their desires or interests. It is commonly used in contexts involving persuasion, such as marketing or negotiations, and can carry a slightly negative connotation when it involves trickery or manipulation.
When to use 诱
Be careful not to confuse 诱 with similar sounding words that do not have the same meaning, such as '友' (yǒu), meaning friend. This word is typically used in informal contexts, but can also appear in formal discussions, especially in marketing or psychological contexts.
诱 or something close to it
引 (yǐn) - use 诱 (yòu) when the focus is on enticing or tempting someone, while 引 (yǐn) emphasizes leading or guiding someone towards a certain action or place.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 诱 with 友 (yǒu), leading to incorrect usage such as saying '我诱我的朋友' (wǒ yòu wǒ de péngyǒu) when they mean 'I want to entice my friend.' The correct phrase should specify the context of temptation or persuasion.
Write 诱
诱
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Grammar Patterns of 诱
诱 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 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.
