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酉 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
酉
yǒu
wine; wine vessel; chemical
ns, 7 strokes, radical 酉, rank #59845, Very Hard
酉
yǒu
10th earthly branch: 5-7 p.m., 8th solar month (8th September-7th October), year of the Rooster
unknown, 7 strokes, radical 酉, rank #59845, Very Hard
酉
yǒu
ancient Chinese compass point: 270° (west)
unknown, 7 strokes, radical 酉, rank #59845, Very Hard
yǒu(you3)you T3
1wine; wine vessel; chemical
210th earthly branch: 5-7 p.m., 8th solar month (8th September-7th October), year of the Rooster
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March 24, 2026
酉yǒu(you3)
酉 (yǒu) primarily refers to wine or a wine vessel, reflecting its historical connection to fermentation and beverages. In a broader context, it represents the 10th earthly branch in the Chinese zodiac, associated with the year of the Rooster and the time period from 5 to 7 p.m. It also denotes a specific direction in ancient Chinese compass systems.
Strokes7Radical酉Frequency#59845DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the Rooster is one of the twelve zodiac animals, symbolizing punctuality and fidelity. The 酉 time period, associated with evening, is often a time for family gatherings and enjoying meals together.
Memory tip
Imagine a rooster (which represents 酉) crowing at sunset, signaling the time to enjoy a glass of wine. The character 酉 has a component that resembles a wine vessel, making it easy to visualize the connection between the character, its meaning, and its pronunciation (yǒu).
Meanings of 酉
yǒu(you3)
1wine; wine vessel; chemical
210th earthly branch: 5-7 p.m., 8th solar month (8th September-7th October), year of the Rooster
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About 酉
酉Simplified
7Strokes
酉Radical
地名míngcíplace name (p.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 酉
Podcast: 酉
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AI Study Notes for 酉
Usage Notes
酉 is generally used in more formal or literary contexts, especially when discussing time in relation to the zodiac. Common collocations include 酉时 (yǒu shí - the time of 酉) and 酒酉 (jiǔ yǒu - wine vessel). Be cautious with tone; mispronouncing it can lead to confusion with other characters.
HSK Study Tips
While 酉 is not included in the HSK list, it is important for learners familiarizing themselves with the Chinese zodiac and traditional timekeeping. Students should focus on its connections with other earthly branches and the cultural significance of time in Chinese society.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 酉 with other similarly pronounced characters, such as 有 (yǒu - to have). An example mistake might be using 酉 when they mean to say 'to have' something, which should be written as 有.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 酉
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酉 (yǒu) primarily refers to wine or a wine vessel, reflecting its historical connection to fermentation and beverages. In a broader context, it represents the 10th earthly branch in the Chinese zodiac, associated with the year of the Rooster and the time period from 5 to 7 p.m. It also denotes a specific direction in ancient Chinese compass systems.
When to use 酉
酉 is generally used in more formal or literary contexts, especially when discussing time in relation to the zodiac. Common collocations include 酉时 (yǒu shí - the time of 酉) and 酒酉 (jiǔ yǒu - wine vessel). Be cautious with tone; mispronouncing it can lead to confusion with other characters.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 酉 with other similarly pronounced characters, such as 有 (yǒu - to have). An example mistake might be using 酉 when they mean to say 'to have' something, which should be written as 有.
Write 酉
酉
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Word Family of 酉
Words containing this character10
酉yǒuancient Chinese compass point: 270° (west)
乙酉twenty-second year B10 of the 60 year cycle, e.g. 2005 or 2065
辛酉fifty-eighth year H10 of the 60 year cycle, e.g. 1981 or 2041
酉阳Youyang Tujia and Miao Autonomous County in Chongqing酉陽
丁酉thirty-fourth year D10 of the 60 year cycle, e.g. 1957 or 2017
癸酉tenth year J10 of the 60 year cycle, e.g. 1993 or 2053
己酉forty-sixth year F10 of the 60 year cycle, e.g. 1969 or 2029
酉时5-7 pm (in the system of two-hour subdivisions used in former times)酉時
酉阳县Youyang Miao and Tujia autonomous county in Qianjiang suburbs of Chongqing municipality酉陽縣
酉阳土家族苗族自治县Youyang Miao and Tujia autonomous county in Qianjiang suburbs of Chongqing municipality酉陽土家族苗族自治縣
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 酉
What does 乙酉 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 酉
酉 is the 10th earthly branch and is associated with the year of the Rooster.
You can say 酉时 (yǒu shí) to refer to the time from 5 to 7 p.m.
No, 酉 is more commonly used in formal contexts, particularly in literature and discussions about the zodiac.
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