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斿 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
yóuto swim; to move freelyzg, 9 strokes, radical 方, Very Hard
yóuscallops along lower edge of flagunknown, 9 strokes, radical 方, Very Hard
yóu(you2) T2
  1. 1to swim; to move freely
  2. 2scallops along lower edge of flag
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March 24, 2026
yóu(you2)

The character 斿 (yóu) primarily means 'to swim' or 'to move freely.' It can also refer to the scallops or decorative edges found on the lower part of a flag. This term is not commonly used in everyday conversation, but it can appear in literary or artistic contexts.

Strokes9RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese art and literature, the imagery of swimming often symbolizes freedom and the pursuit of one's aspirations, reflecting a valued cultural theme of harmony with nature.

Memory Tip

Imagine a fish swimming freely in the water, moving effortlessly like the flowing lines of the character 斿. The left part resembles a wave, symbolizing movement, while the right part can remind you of the flowing motion of swimming.

Meanings of 斿

yóu(you2)
1to swim; to move freely
2scallops along lower edge of flag
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 斿

Simplified
9Strokes
Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 斿

JasonAmy

Podcast:

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AI Study Notes for 斿

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a fish swimming freely in the water, moving effortlessly like the flowing lines of the character 斿. The left part resembles a wave, symbolizing movement, while the right part can remind you of the flowing motion of swimming.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 斿 with similar-sounding words. It is more formal and less frequently used in casual conversation. Pay attention to the context in which it appears, often related to literary or artistic descriptions, and avoid using it in everyday dialogues.

HSK Study Tips

Although this character is not part of the HSK curriculum, its components can help students recognize patterns in other characters. Focus on understanding its radicals and how they relate to movement and fluidity, which can connect to other HSK Level 3-4 vocabulary.

Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese art and literature, the imagery of swimming often symbolizes freedom and the pursuit of one's aspirations, reflecting a valued cultural theme of harmony with nature.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use 斿 interchangeably with 游 (yóu), which is incorrect as 游 is the standard term for 'to swim.' Always choose 游 for general usage, as 斿 is more specialized.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 斿

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Etymology of 斿

Explanation

Depicts a child (子) holding a flag (㫃).

Learn more about character formation (六书)

Decomposition of 斿

IDS Structure⿰方⿱?子
Full Character
=
Fang1
left
zi3
top
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 斿?

Write 斿

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

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Cultural Notes for 斿

🏮Cultural insight

In traditional Chinese art and literature, the imagery of swimming often symbolizes freedom and the pursuit of one's aspirations, reflecting a valued cultural theme of harmony with nature.

Word Family of 斿

Words Containing This Character1
yóuscallops along lower edge of flag
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 斿 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 斿

It's not commonly used in everyday conversation, so you might not hear it often outside of literary contexts.