HSK 6, unknown, 7 strokes, radical 忄, rank #13003, Hard
yōu(you1) T1
1to worry
2to concern oneself with
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March 24, 2026
忧(憂)yōu(you1)
The character 忧 (yōu) means to worry or feel concerned about something. It is often used in contexts involving anxiety, sorrow, or grief, particularly in relation to personal concerns or the well-being of others. This character can also refer to mourning, especially in the context of a parent's funeral, which adds a cultural layer to its meaning.
Strokes7Radical忄Frequency#13003DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the character 忧 is closely associated with filial piety, reflecting the deep respect and concern one has for their parents, particularly in times of loss or mourning. It captures the societal expectation to show grief and care for family.
Memory Tip
Imagine a worried parent (忧) holding their head in their hands, symbolizing sorrow and concern. The left side of the character (忄) represents 'heart', emphasizing emotional distress, while the right side (尤) can be visualized as a person feeling overwhelmed by their worries.
Meanings of 忧
yōu(you1)
1to worry
2to concern oneself with
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 忧
忧Simplified
憂Traditional
7Strokes
忄Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#13003Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6
Podcast: 忧
Podcast: 忧
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AI Study Notes for 忧
Quick Contrast
忧 (yōu) vs 担心 (dān xīn) — use 忧 (yōu) for deeper emotional concerns or sorrow, while 担心 (dān xīn) is more general worry.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a worried parent (忧) holding their head in their hands, symbolizing sorrow and concern. The left side of the character (忄) represents 'heart', emphasizing emotional distress, while the right side (尤) can be visualized as a person feeling overwhelmed by their worries.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 忧 with other characters that express sadness or worry, such as 哀 (āi) or 惊 (jīng). It typically carries a more profound sense of concern or grief, so use it in serious contexts rather than casual ones. Also, be mindful of the tone; saying it with the wrong tone can change its meaning.
HSK Study Tips
Although 忧 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it shares themes with other HSK words related to emotions, such as 开心 (kāixīn) for 'happy' or 悲伤 (bēishāng) for 'sad'. Students should focus on its nuances compared to these other emotional terms.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the character 忧 is closely associated with filial piety, reflecting the deep respect and concern one has for their parents, particularly in times of loss or mourning. It captures the societal expectation to show grief and care for family.
Common Mistakes
Learners might confuse 忧 with similar-sounding words like 优 (yōu), which means 'excellent'. For example, saying '我很优' (wǒ hěn yōu) to mean 'I am very worried' is incorrect; the correct phrase would be '我很忧' (wǒ hěn yōu).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 忧
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Grammar Patterns of 忧
忧 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 9 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.
Parents always worry about their children's safety and try not to let them go out alone.
Cultural Notes for 忧
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the character 忧 is closely associated with filial piety, reflecting the deep respect and concern one has for their parents, particularly in times of loss or mourning. It captures the societal expectation to show grief and care for family.
Word Family of 忧
Words Containing This Character20
担忧dānyōuto worry擔憂
忧郁yōuyùsullen憂鬱
忧伤distressed憂傷
忧yōuto worry憂
忧虑yōulǜto worry憂慮
忧愁yōuchóuto be worried憂愁
无忧无虑wúyōuwúlǜcarefree and without worries (idiom)無憂無慮
忧心忡忡deeply worried and sick at heart (idiom)憂心忡忡
后顾之忧hòugùzhīyōuworries about the future consequences後顧之憂
忧心concerned憂心
高枕无忧to sleep peacefully (idiom)高枕無憂
杞人忧天man of Qǐ fears the sky falling (idiom); groundless fears杞人憂天
排忧解难to resolve a difficult situation and leave worries behind (idiom)排憂解難
堪忧worrying堪憂
喜忧参半to have mixed feelings (about sth)喜憂參半
隐忧secret concern隱憂
分忧to share tribulations分憂
烦忧to worry煩憂
忧郁症(psychology) depression憂鬱症
忧患suffering憂患
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 担忧 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 忧
While both express sadness, 忧 (yōu) focuses more on worry and concern, whereas 悲 (bēi) is more about sorrow and grief.
Yes, but it is more common in literary or formal contexts, especially when discussing serious issues.
It is pronounced 'yōu' with a high level tone.
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