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March 24, 2026
悠yōu(you1)
The character 悠 (yōu) conveys a sense of being long, drawn out, or distant in both time and space. It often describes a leisurely state or a feeling of being carefree, but can also imply a sense of pensiveness or worry. This word is frequently used in contexts related to relaxation, contemplation, or describing something that feels remote or far away.
Strokes11Radical心Frequency#8613DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
The concept of 悠 is often reflected in traditional Chinese art and poetry, where nature and the passage of time are themes that evoke a sense of peace and introspection, aligning with the cultural value placed on harmony and balance.
Memory Tip
Imagine a leisurely swing in a park, where you feel the gentle breeze and time seems to stretch out forever. The character 悠 looks like a person swinging back and forth effortlessly, embodying that sense of carefree enjoyment. The 'yōu' sound rhymes with 'you,' reminding us that this state of mind is about being at ease with oneself.
Meanings of 悠
yōu(you1)
1long or drawn out
2remote in time or space
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 悠
悠Simplified
11Strokes
心Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#8613Frequency Rank
Podcast: 悠
Podcast: 悠
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AI Study Notes for 悠
Quick Contrast
悠 (yōu) vs 远 (yuǎn) — use 悠 when describing a leisurely, carefree state, while 远 specifically indicates physical distance.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a leisurely swing in a park, where you feel the gentle breeze and time seems to stretch out forever. The character 悠 looks like a person swinging back and forth effortlessly, embodying that sense of carefree enjoyment. The 'yōu' sound rhymes with 'you,' reminding us that this state of mind is about being at ease with oneself.
Usage Notes
悠 is often used in literary or poetic contexts, so it may not be appropriate for casual conversation. Common collocations include 悠闲 (yōu xián - leisurely) and 悠久 (yōu jiǔ - long-lasting). Be mindful of the tone; mispronouncing it can change the meaning entirely.
HSK Study Tips
Although 悠 is not listed in the HSK levels, it shares themes with words like 安静 (ān jìng - quiet) and 放松 (fàng sōng - relax), which are more accessible at HSK 2-3. Focus on the pronunciation and the contexts in which 悠 can evoke feelings of tranquility or nostalgia.
Cultural Note
The concept of 悠 is often reflected in traditional Chinese art and poetry, where nature and the passage of time are themes that evoke a sense of peace and introspection, aligning with the cultural value placed on harmony and balance.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 悠 with similar-sounding words like 有 (yǒu - to have), leading to sentences like '我悠很多书' instead of the correct '我有很多书' (I have many books). Pay attention to the context and meaning to avoid such errors.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 悠
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Grammar Patterns of 悠
悠 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 7 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.
Columbia was a young city compared to venerable Charleston.
4
我们悠悠哉哉地溜达一会儿，好不好？
wǒ mén yōu yōu zāi zāi dì liū dá yī huì ér， ， hǎo bù？
Let's have a nice little stroll, shall we?
5
我慢悠悠地走着去看迈克尔·弗莱恩的戏剧《糊涂戏班》。
wǒ màn yōu yōu dì zǒu zháo qù kàn mài kè ěr· · fú lái ēn de xì《 jù 《 hū tú》。
I trolled along to see Michael Frayn's play, "Noises Off"
6
伦纳德在温室里悠然自得地给西红柿绑上撑杆。
lún nà dé zài wēn shì lǐ yōu rán zì dé dì gěi xī hóng shì bǎng shàng chēng gān。
Leonard pottered round the greenhouse, tying up canes for the tomatoes.
7
确切来说他并不算是无家可归，他只是老在这个公园里转悠。
què qiē lái shuō tā bìng bù suàn shì wú jiā kě guī， ， tā zhī shì lǎo zài zhè gè gōng yuán lǐ zhuǎn。
He's not exactly homeless, he just hangs out in this park.
8
他们开着劳斯莱斯到处转悠，公开炫耀他们的财富。
tā mén kāi zháo láo sī lái sī dào chǔ zhuǎn yōu， ， gōng kāi xuàn yào tā mén de cái。
They drove around in Rolls-Royces, openly flaunting their wealth.
9
我们慢悠悠地走回酒店。
wǒ mén màn yōu yōu dì zǒu huí jiǔ diàn。
We walked leisurely into the hotel.
10
这桌子腿不平,直晃悠.
zhè zhuō zǐ tuǐ bù píng, , zhí huǎng.
The table wobbled on its uneven legs.
Cultural Notes for 悠
🏮Cultural insight
The concept of 悠 is often reflected in traditional Chinese art and poetry, where nature and the passage of time are themes that evoke a sense of peace and introspection, aligning with the cultural value placed on harmony and balance.
Word Family of 悠
Compounds1
滺
Words Containing This Character17
悠yōuleisurely
忽悠hūyouto rock
悠久yōujiǔlong (tradition, history etc)
悠闲yōuxiánleisurely悠閒
转悠zhuànyouto roll轉悠
悠悠lasting for ages
晃悠to swing
悠然unhurried
悠扬melodious悠揚
悠长long悠長
慢悠悠unhurried
悠远distant悠遠
晃晃悠悠swaying
悠哉悠哉free and unconstrained (idiom)
悠着to take it easy悠著
悠然神往thoughts wandering far away
忽忽悠悠careless
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 悠 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 悠
Some synonyms for 悠 (yōu) include 轻松 (qīngsōng), which means relaxed, and 长 (cháng), meaning long. These words can help convey similar feelings of ease and duration in different contexts.
Yes, 悠 (yōu) can describe emotions, particularly feelings of pensiveness or worry. For instance, in poetic or literary contexts, it may be used to express a deep, reflective state of mind.
悠 (yōu) means long or drawn out, and can refer to a sense of leisure or a remote time or space. It can also convey a feeling of pensiveness or worry. The character is often associated with a relaxed or calm state of mind.
You can use 悠 (yōu) in various contexts to describe a leisurely pace or an extended duration. For example, you might say '他过着悠闲的生活' (tā guòzhe yōuxián de shēnghuó), meaning 'He lives a leisurely life.' This highlights the relaxed nature of the term.
悠 is pronounced as 'yōu' with a high-level tone. Practice saying it with a smooth, steady voice.
It is less common in everyday speech and more often found in literature or formal writing.
