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鼬 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鼬yòuweasel, mustela itatisn, 18 strokes, radical 鼠, rank #12337, Very Hard
yòu(you4)you T4
  1. 1weasel, mustela itatis
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March 24, 2026

鼬yòu(you4)

The character 鼬 (yòu) refers to a type of small carnivorous mammal, specifically the weasel, known for its elongated body and agility. This term is often used in biological or ecological contexts when discussing wildlife or animal behavior.

Strokes18Radical鼠Frequency#12337DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese folklore and literature, animals like the weasel are sometimes associated with cunning and trickery, reflecting their behaviors in the wild. This cultural perception can influence how the term is used in various contexts.

Memory tip

Imagine a slippery little weasel sneaking through the grass, its body resembling the shape of the character 鼬. The '耳' (ear) part at the bottom looks like the weasel's ears perked up, ready to pounce, while '𠂆' hints at its lively nature.

Meanings of 鼬

yòu(you4)
1weasel, mustela itatis
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 鼬

鼬Simplified
18Strokes
鼠Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鼬

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Podcast: 鼬

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AI study notes for 鼬

Usage Notes

Although 鼬 is a specific term, it is less commonly used in everyday conversation compared to other animals. Be careful not to confuse it with related terms like 鼬鼠 (yòu shǔ), which refers specifically to the weasel mouse. Use it in a formal context when discussing wildlife.

HSK Study Tips

As 鼬 is not part of the HSK vocabulary lists, it may not be directly relevant for learners focusing on HSK levels. However, knowing this word can enhance your vocabulary related to animals and nature, which can be beneficial for advanced learners.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 鼬 with similar sounding animals like 狐狸 (hú li, fox) or 猫 (māo, cat). Remember that 鼬 specifically refers to the weasel, which has distinct characteristics compared to these other animals.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鼬

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Etymology of 鼬

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

Phonosemantic compound. 鼠 represents the meaning and 由 represents the sound.

Memory hint

rat

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

Origin

鼬 = 鼠 + 由. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 鼬

IDS Structure⿰鼠由
鼬Full character
=
鼠shu3
left
由you2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 鼬?

How to say weasel, mustela itatis in Chinese

“weasel, mustela itatis” in Chinese is鼬yòu

The character 鼬 (yòu) refers to a type of small carnivorous mammal, specifically the weasel, known for its elongated body and agility. This term is often used in biological or ecological contexts when discussing wildlife or animal behavior.

When to use 鼬

Although 鼬 is a specific term, it is less commonly used in everyday conversation compared to other animals. Be careful not to confuse it with related terms like 鼬鼠 (yòu shǔ), which refers specifically to the weasel mouse. Use it in a formal context when discussing wildlife.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 鼬 with similar sounding animals like 狐狸 (hú li, fox) or 猫 (māo, cat). Remember that 鼬 specifically refers to the weasel, which has distinct characteristics compared to these other animals.

Write 鼬

鼬

Practice writing 鼬 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 鼬

鼬 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). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 1

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

狐狸、獾、黄鼠狼和白____在这里很常见。

Fox, badger, weasel and stoat are regularly seen here.

Example sentences for 鼬 (1)

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1
狐狸、獾、黄鼠狼和白鼬在这里很常见。

húli、 huān、 huáng shǔ láng hé bái yòu zài zhèlǐ hěn chángjiàn。

Fox, badger, weasel and stoat are regularly seen here.

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Word Family of 鼬

Words containing this character2
鼬yòuweasel
黄鼬huángyòuSiberian weasel黃鼬
Exercise 1 of 1

Words with 鼬

What does 黄鼬 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 鼬

鼬 (yòu) refers to the weasel itself, while 鼬鼠 (yòu shǔ) specifically refers to the weasel mouse, a different but related species.

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