HSK 4, n, 8 strokes, radical 氵, rank #1782, Medium
油
yóu
fat
HSK 4, n, 8 strokes, radical 氵, rank #1782, Medium
油
yóu
grease
HSK 4, n, 8 strokes, radical 氵, rank #1782, Medium
油
yóu
petroleum
HSK 4, n, 8 strokes, radical 氵, rank #1782, Medium
油
yóu
to apply tung oil, paint or varnish
HSK 4, n, 8 strokes, radical 氵, rank #1782, Medium
油
yóu
oily
HSK 4, n, 8 strokes, radical 氵, rank #1782, Medium
油
yóu
greasy
HSK 4, n, 8 strokes, radical 氵, rank #1782, Medium
油
yóu
glib
HSK 4, n, 8 strokes, radical 氵, rank #1782, Medium
油
yóu
cunning
HSK 4, n, 8 strokes, radical 氵, rank #1782, Medium
油
yóu
oil, fat, grease, lard; oil paints
HSK 4, n, 8 strokes, radical 氵, rank #1782, Medium
yóu(you2)you T2
1oil
2fat
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March 24, 2026
油yóu(you2)
The character 油 (yóu) primarily means 'oil' and can refer to various types of oil, including cooking oil, petroleum, and even oil paints. It is commonly used in cooking, automotive contexts, and when discussing substances that are greasy or oily in nature.
Strokes8Radical氵Frequency#1782DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
Oil holds significant importance in Chinese cooking, where various oils (like sesame and peanut oil) are staples in many dishes. Understanding 油 helps with culinary discussions and enhances appreciation for traditional cooking methods.
Memory Tip
Imagine a shiny, slippery oil slick on the surface of water. The character 油 has the radical for water (氵) indicating something fluid, combined with the character for 'you' (由) which sounds like 'yóu.' Picture a boat navigating through that oil slick, making it easy to remember that 'yóu' means oil.
Meanings of 油
yóu(you2)
1oil
2fat
Exercise 1 of 3
By ear
Play it, then pick what 油 means.
About 油
油Simplified
8Strokes
氵Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#1782Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L4ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 油
Podcast: 油
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AI Study Notes for 油
Quick Contrast
油 (yóu) vs 液 (yè) — choose 油 when specifically referring to oil, whereas 液 refers to liquids in general.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 油 (yóu) with 友 (yǒu), which means 'friend.' In informal contexts, 油 can describe someone as 'glib' or 'cunning,' so be cautious when using it to describe people. Common collocations include 食用油 (shíyòng yóu, cooking oil) and 石油 (shíyóu, petroleum).
HSK Study Tips
Though 油 is not explicitly listed in the HSK levels, it is useful for HSK 3 and above due to its frequency in daily conversations and cooking contexts. Students should focus on the different types of oils and their uses to build vocabulary around this character.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 油 (yóu) with 友 (yǒu) due to similar pronunciation. For example, saying '我有油' (wǒ yǒu yóu) meaning 'I have oil' is correct, but saying '我有友' (wǒ yǒu yǒu) would incorrectly suggest 'I have friends' in a confused tone context.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 油
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How Well Do You Know 油?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 油 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.
油 = 氵 + 由. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 油
IDS Structure⿰氵由
油Full Character
=
氵shui3
left
由you2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 油?
How to say oil in Chinese
“oil” in Chinese is油yóu
The character 油 (yóu) primarily means 'oil' and can refer to various types of oil, including cooking oil, petroleum, and even oil paints. It is commonly used in cooking, automotive contexts, and when discussing substances that are greasy or oily in nature.
When to use 油
Be careful not to confuse 油 (yóu) with 友 (yǒu), which means 'friend.' In informal contexts, 油 can describe someone as 'glib' or 'cunning,' so be cautious when using it to describe people. Common collocations include 食用油 (shíyòng yóu, cooking oil) and 石油 (shíyóu, petroleum).
油 or something close to it
油 (yóu) vs 液 (yè) — choose 油 when specifically referring to oil, whereas 液 refers to liquids in general.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 油 (yóu) with 友 (yǒu) due to similar pronunciation. For example, saying '我有油' (wǒ yǒu yóu) meaning 'I have oil' is correct, but saying '我有友' (wǒ yǒu yǒu) would incorrectly suggest 'I have friends' in a confused tone context.
Write 油
油
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Practice writing 油 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 油
油 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 10 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.
The doctor advised me to eat less fat because I need to control my weight.
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Cultural Notes for 油
💡Did you know?
In Chinese cooking, oil is essential. Different types of oils like sesame oil and peanut oil are used for distinct flavors, showing the importance of oil in culinary practices.
Word Family of 油
Words Containing This Character20
加油jiāyóuto add oil
油yóuoil
石油shíyóuoil
汽油qìyóugasoline
原油crude oil
奶油cream
加油站jiāyóuzhàngas station
油漆yóuqīoil paints
黄油butter黃油
燃油rányóufuel oil
酱油jiàngyóusoy sauce醬油
油田oil field
柴油cháiyóudiesel fuel
油画yóuhuàoil painting油畫
油门gas pedal油門
油脂grease
油菜oilseed rape (Brassica napus)
甘油glycerine
油箱oil tank
机油engine oil機油
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 油
What does 加油 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 油
Common phrases that include 油 (yóu) are '食用油' (shíyòng yóu) meaning 'cooking oil' and '油漆' (yóuqī) meaning 'paint.' These phrases help convey specific meanings related to oil in various contexts, such as cooking and home improvement.
Yes, 油 (yóu) is used in idioms like '油腔滑调' (yóu qiāng huá diào), which describes someone who is smooth-talking or insincere. This shows how the concept of oil can be metaphorically applied to describe personality traits.
油 (yóu) translates to 'oil' in English and can refer to various types of oils, including cooking oil, petroleum, and grease. It can also describe something that is oily or greasy in texture. In a broader context, it is used in phrases related to cooking and other applications like painting.
You can use 油 (yóu) in sentences to describe cooking methods or the state of something. For example, '我需要一些油来炒菜' (Wǒ xūyào yīxiē yóu lái chǎocài) means 'I need some oil to stir-fry.' It can also be used in idiomatic expressions related to greasiness or slickness.
油 refers to oil in general, while 油脂 specifically means fat or grease, often used in cooking or nutrition.
Yes, in an informal context, 油 can imply someone is glib or cunning, but be cautious as it may have negative connotations.
油 (yóu) is pronounced with the second tone, while 友 (yǒu) is in the third tone. The tones change the meaning, so pay attention!
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