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宇 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
宇
yǔ
room
HSK 5, nr, 6 strokes, radical 宀, rank #9196, Hard
宇
yǔ
universe
HSK 5, nr, 6 strokes, radical 宀, rank #9196, Hard
宇
yǔ
building, house, room, structure; space, the universe
HSK 5, nr, 6 strokes, radical 宀, rank #9196, Hard
yǔ(yu3)yu T3
1room
2universe
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March 24, 2026
宇yǔ(yu3)
The character 宇 (yǔ) primarily refers to a 'room' or 'space', but it can also denote the 'universe' or 'building'. It is commonly used in contexts relating to architecture or expansive concepts, emphasizing both physical structures and the vastness of space.
Strokes6Radical宀Frequency#9196DifficultyHard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the concept of the universe (宇宙) is often tied to philosophical ideas about harmony and balance, which are central to Chinese cosmology. This reflects a deep connection between the physical world and broader existential questions.
Memory tip
Think of 宇 (yǔ) as a house (宀) with a spacious sky (宇) above it. Imagine standing in a room (the 'house' part) looking up at the expansive universe (the 'sky' part), which helps you remember both the meaning of space and its pronunciation.
Meanings of 宇
yǔ(yu3)
1room
2universe
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 宇 means.
About 宇
宇Simplified
6Strokes
宀Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#9196Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5
Podcast: 宇
Podcast: 宇
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AI study notes for 宇
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 宇 (yǔ) with other similar-sounding characters. It's a formal term that may be used in literary contexts, but it can also appear in everyday language, especially in discussions about architecture or cosmology. Common phrases include 宇宙 (yǔzhòu - universe).
HSK Study Tips
While 宇 (yǔ) is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it relates well to other words about space and architecture. Students should focus on its components and how it connects with terms like 宇宙 (yǔzhòu) to enhance their understanding of both everyday and abstract concepts.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 宇 (yǔ) with 余 (yú), which means 'surplus' or 'remaining', due to similar pronunciation. Remember, 宇 relates to space and structure, while 余 focuses on excess.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 宇
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Example
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Knowing 宇 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
宇 = 宀 + 于. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 宇
IDS Structure⿱宀于
宇Full character
=
宀gai4
top
于Yu2
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 宇?
How to say room in Chinese
“room” in Chinese is宇yǔ
The character 宇 (yǔ) primarily refers to a 'room' or 'space', but it can also denote the 'universe' or 'building'. It is commonly used in contexts relating to architecture or expansive concepts, emphasizing both physical structures and the vastness of space.
When to use 宇
Be careful not to confuse 宇 (yǔ) with other similar-sounding characters. It's a formal term that may be used in literary contexts, but it can also appear in everyday language, especially in discussions about architecture or cosmology. Common phrases include 宇宙 (yǔzhòu - universe).
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 宇 (yǔ) with 余 (yú), which means 'surplus' or 'remaining', due to similar pronunciation. Remember, 宇 relates to space and structure, while 余 focuses on excess.
Write 宇
宇
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Practice writing 宇 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 宇
宇 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 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
早期的天文学家认为我们的星球是____宙的中心。
Early astronomers thought that our planet was the centre of the universe.
Example sentences for 宇 (10)
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1
早期的天文学家认为我们的星球是宇宙的中心。
zǎoqī de tiānwén xué jiā rènwéi wǒmen de xīngqiú shì yǔzhòu de zhōngxīn。
Early astronomers thought that our planet was the centre of the universe.
2
载人宇宙飞行的前景看上去充满了越来越多的变数。
zǎi rén yǔzhòu fēixíng de qiánjǐng kànshangqu chōngmǎn le yuèláiyuè duō de biàn shù。
The future for manned space flight is looking increasingly uncertain.
Microseconds later the universe inflated to become billions of miles wide.
10
马天宇2008最新造型非常帅!
mǎ tiān yǔ2008 zuì xīn zàoxíng fēicháng shuài!
Extraordinary Ma Tian Yu 2008 up - to - date model chief commanders!
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Word Family of 宇
Compounds1
荢zì
Words containing this character14
宇宙yǔzhòuuniverse
宇yǔroom
宇航员yǔhángyuánastronaut宇航員
李宇春lǐyǔchūnLi Yuchun aka Chris Lee (1984-), Chinese pop singer
宇航局yǔhángjúspace agency
宇宙飞船yǔzhòufēichuánspacecraft宇宙飛船
楼宇lóuyǔbuilding樓宇
宇航yǔhángspace flight
庙宇miàoyǔtemple廟宇
宇文yǔwéntwo-character surname Yuwen
大宇dàyǔDaewoo (Korean conglomerate)
吴镇宇wúzhènyǔFrancis Ng Chun-Yu (1961-), Hong Kong actor吳鎮宇
寰宇huányǔthe whole earth
宇航服yǔhángfúspacesuit
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 宇
What does 宇宙 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 宇
宇 refers to a broader concept of space or room and can imply a sense of grandeur, while 房子 specifically means 'house' or 'building', focusing on the physical structure.
It is often found in compound words like 宇宙 (yǔzhòu - universe) and is less frequently used alone in conversation.
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