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钰 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
rare treasureg, 10 strokes, radical 钅, Very Hard
treasureunknown, 10 strokes, radical 钅, Very Hard
hard metalunknown, 10 strokes, radical 钅, Very Hard
(yu4) T4
  1. 1rare treasure
  2. 2treasure
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
(鈺)(yu4)

The character 钰 (yù) refers to a rare treasure or precious metal, often associated with high value and rarity. It is typically used in literary contexts or discussing valuable objects, emphasizing their uniqueness and significance in Chinese culture.

Strokes10RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of a 'treasure' often extends beyond material wealth to encompass wisdom and relationships, indicating that true value can also lie in intangible assets.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'yù' (yoo) that looks like a treasure chest filled with rare metals. The character 钰 has the radical 钅 (metal) which hints at its connection to precious metals, while the sound 'yù' can remind you of 'you' discovering this hidden treasure.

Meanings of 钰

(yu4)
1rare treasure
2treasure
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 钰

Simplified
Traditional
10Strokes
Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 钰

JasonAmy

Podcast:

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AI Study Notes for 钰

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a 'yù' (yoo) that looks like a treasure chest filled with rare metals. The character 钰 has the radical 钅 (metal) which hints at its connection to precious metals, while the sound 'yù' can remind you of 'you' discovering this hidden treasure.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 钰 (yù) with other similar-sounding words, as its usage is quite specific to treasure and precious materials. It is more formal and often found in written language rather than in everyday conversation. Common collocations include '珍贵的钰' (precious treasure).

HSK Study Tips

Though 钰 is not part of the official HSK levels, it connects to words related to value and rarity found in HSK vocabulary. Students should focus on recognizing the radical 钅 and understanding its implications in various contexts.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of a 'treasure' often extends beyond material wealth to encompass wisdom and relationships, indicating that true value can also lie in intangible assets.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 钰 (yù) with similar characters like 玉 (yù), which means jade. For example, saying '我喜欢钰' (Wǒ xǐhuān yù) to mean 'I like jade' is incorrect; instead, use '我喜欢玉'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 钰

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Etymology of 钰

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

A treasure of gold 钅 and jade 玉; 玉 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 钰?

Decomposition of 钰

IDS Structure⿰钅玉
Full Character
=
jin1
left
yu4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 钰?

Write 钰

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Cultural Notes for 钰

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, the concept of a 'treasure' often extends beyond material wealth to encompass wisdom and relationships, indicating that true value can also lie in intangible assets.

Word Family of 钰

Words Containing This Character2
treasure
朱祁钰Zhu Qiyu, personal name of seventh Ming emperor Jingtai 景泰[Jǐng​tài] (1428-1457), reigned 1449-1457朱祁鈺
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 钰 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 钰

No, 钰 is more often found in literary texts or discussions about valuables rather than in casual dialogue.