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柚 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
柚yòugrapefruit, pomelon, 9 strokes, radical 木, rank #25078, Very Hard
柚yòupomelo (Citrus maxima or C. grandis)unknown, 9 strokes, radical 木, rank #25078, Very Hard
柚yòushaddockunknown, 9 strokes, radical 木, rank #25078, Very Hard
柚yòuoriental grapefruitunknown, 9 strokes, radical 木, rank #25078, Very Hard
yòu(you4)you T4
  1. 1grapefruit, pomelo
  2. 2pomelo (Citrus maxima or C. grandis)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

柚yòu(you4)

柚 (yòu) refers to a type of citrus fruit, specifically the pomelo or grapefruit. It is commonly enjoyed in Chinese cuisine and is known for its sweet and slightly tangy flavor. This fruit is often used in celebrations and is associated with good fortune in Chinese culture.

Strokes9Radical木Frequency#25078DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, pomelos are often consumed during the Mid-Autumn Festival and are seen as symbols of prosperity and good luck. They are also used in family gatherings and celebrations, enhancing their cultural significance.

Memory tip

Imagine a large, round grapefruit sitting on a tree branch. The character 柚 has the tree radical 木 (mù) on the left, indicating it is a fruit-bearing tree. Picture the fruit as a 'yummy' treat, which sounds like 'yòu', making it easier to remember.

Meanings of 柚

yòu(you4)
1grapefruit, pomelo
2pomelo (Citrus maxima or C. grandis)
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 柚 means.

About 柚

柚Simplified
9Strokes
木Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 柚

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Podcast: 柚

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AI study notes for 柚

Quick Contrast

柚 (yòu) vs 葡萄 (pútáo) — choose 柚 for a citrus fruit specifically known as pomelo, while 葡萄 refers to grapes.

Usage Notes

柚 is often used in both formal and informal contexts but is primarily used in culinary discussions. Be mindful of the tone; the fourth tone (yòu) can easily be confused with other tones, leading to misunderstandings. Common collocations include 柚子 (yòuzi) for pomelo and 柚子茶 (yòuzi chá) for pomelo tea.

HSK Study Tips

Even though 柚 is not listed in HSK levels, it relates to HSK 3 and 4 vocabulary around food and fruit. Students should focus on using it in context, especially in discussions about healthy eating or traditional dishes.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 柚 (yòu) with 葡萄柚 (pútáoyòu). For example, saying '我想要一个柚' when referring to grapefruit is incorrect; it should be '我想要一个葡萄柚'. Additionally, mixing up the tones can lead to confusion, so practice the pronunciation carefully.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 柚

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Etymology of 柚

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

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

Memory hint

tree

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

Origin

柚 = 木 + 由. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 柚

IDS Structure⿰木由
柚Full character
=
木Mu4
left
由you2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 柚?

How to say grapefruit, pomelo in Chinese

“grapefruit, pomelo” in Chinese is柚yòu

柚 (yòu) refers to a type of citrus fruit, specifically the pomelo or grapefruit. It is commonly enjoyed in Chinese cuisine and is known for its sweet and slightly tangy flavor. This fruit is often used in celebrations and is associated with good fortune in Chinese culture.

When to use 柚

柚 is often used in both formal and informal contexts but is primarily used in culinary discussions. Be mindful of the tone; the fourth tone (yòu) can easily be confused with other tones, leading to misunderstandings. Common collocations include 柚子 (yòuzi) for pomelo and 柚子茶 (yòuzi chá) for pomelo tea.

柚 or something close to it

柚 (yòu) vs 葡萄 (pútáo) — choose 柚 for a citrus fruit specifically known as pomelo, while 葡萄 refers to grapes.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 柚 (yòu) with 葡萄柚 (pútáoyòu). For example, saying '我想要一个柚' when referring to grapefruit is incorrect; it should be '我想要一个葡萄柚'. Additionally, mixing up the tones can lead to confusion, so practice the pronunciation carefully.

Write 柚

柚

Practice writing 柚 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 柚

柚 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 4 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.

边境上所有的东西都有定价,毒品、____木和走私品无一例外。

Everything along the border has its price: drugs, teak, smuggled goods.

Example sentences for 柚 (5)

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1
边境上所有的东西都有定价,毒品、柚木和走私品无一例外。

biānjìng shàng suǒyǒu de dōngxi dōu yǒu dìngjià, dúpǐn、 yòu mù hé zǒusī pǐn wú yī lìwài。

Everything along the border has its price: drugs, teak, smuggled goods.
2
门是由纯柚木制成,做工精美。

mén shì yóu chún yòu mù zhìchéng, zuò gōng jīngměi。

The door is beautifully made in solid teak.
3
这是除柚木以外最好的造船木材。

zhè shì chú yòu mù yǐwài zuìhǎo de zào chuán mùcái。

With the exception of teak, this is the finest wood for boat construction.
4
这张柚木桌子的桌腿有凹槽纹饰。

zhè zhāng yòu mù zhuōzi de zhuō tuǐ yǒu āo cáo wénshì。

The teak table has fluted legs.
5
柠檬酸可以从橙汁、柠檬汁、酸橙汁或者柚子汁中提取。

níng méng suān kěyǐ cóng chéngzhī、 níng méng zhī、 suān chéngzhī huòzhě yòu zi zhī zhōng tíqǔ。

Citric acid can be extracted from the juice of oranges, lemons, limes or grapefruit.

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Word Family of 柚

Words containing this character4
柚子shaddock
柚yòushaddock
柚木shaddock
葡萄柚grapefruit
Exercise 1 of 3

Words with 柚

What does 柚子 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 柚

柚 refers specifically to pomelo, while 葡萄柚 (pútáoyòu) means grapefruit, which is a different variety.

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