unknown, 11 strokes, radical 氵, rank #9536, Very Hard
淤
yū
river sludge
unknown, 11 strokes, radical 氵, rank #9536, Very Hard
淤
yū
choked with silt
unknown, 11 strokes, radical 氵, rank #9536, Very Hard
yū(yu1) T1
1mud, sediment; to clog up, to silt up
2silt
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March 24, 2026
淤yū(yu1)
The character 淤 (yū) refers to mud or sediment that accumulates in water bodies, often leading to clogging or siltation. It is commonly used in environmental contexts, particularly when discussing the health of rivers and lakes, as well as in medical terms to describe blockages in the body.
Strokes11Radical氵Frequency#9536DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
淤 is significant in discussions about water management in China, where sedimentation can impact agriculture and fishing. This reflects the importance of water quality and environmental conservation in Chinese culture.
Memory Tip
Imagine a river filled with thick, dark mud that makes it hard for fish to swim. The character 淤 has a water radical (氵) on the left, which suggests its connection to water, while the right side (余) sounds like 'yū' and evokes the idea of something 'left over' or 'accumulated' in the water.
Meanings of 淤
yū(yu1)
1mud, sediment; to clog up, to silt up
2silt
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 淤
淤Simplified
11Strokes
氵Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 淤
Podcast: 淤
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
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AI Study Notes for 淤
Quick Contrast
沉 (chén, sink) — use 淤 when specifically referring to sediment accumulation in water, while 沉 is broader and can describe anything that sinks.
Usage Notes
淤 is often used in both formal and informal contexts, but it is more common in technical discussions about environmental science or medicine. Be cautious with pronunciation, as it should be pronounced with a high-level tone (yū), avoiding confusion with similar-sounding characters.
HSK Study Tips
Although not part of the official HSK levels, students studying advanced vocabulary should focus on this character as it relates to natural phenomena and health. It connects to other words like 水 (water) and 泥 (mud), which may appear in HSK materials.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 淤 with similar-sounding characters like 瘀 (yū), which has different meanings. For example, saying '我有淤在我的腿' (I have mud in my leg) instead of '我有瘀血在我的腿' (I have bruising in my leg) is incorrect.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 淤
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Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 於 represents the sound.
1The meaning half氵 carries the sense.
2The sound half於 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaywater
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 淤? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 淤?
Decomposition of 淤
IDS Structure⿰氵於
淤Full Character
=
氵shui3
left
於yu2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 淤?
How to say mud, sediment; to clog up, to silt up in Chinese
“mud, sediment; to clog up, to silt up” in Chinese is淤yū
The character 淤 (yū) refers to mud or sediment that accumulates in water bodies, often leading to clogging or siltation. It is commonly used in environmental contexts, particularly when discussing the health of rivers and lakes, as well as in medical terms to describe blockages in the body.
When to use 淤
淤 is often used in both formal and informal contexts, but it is more common in technical discussions about environmental science or medicine. Be cautious with pronunciation, as it should be pronounced with a high-level tone (yū), avoiding confusion with similar-sounding characters.
淤 or something close to it
沉 (chén, sink) — use 淤 when specifically referring to sediment accumulation in water, while 沉 is broader and can describe anything that sinks.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 淤 with similar-sounding characters like 瘀 (yū), which has different meanings. For example, saying '我有淤在我的腿' (I have mud in my leg) instead of '我有瘀血在我的腿' (I have bruising in my leg) is incorrect.
Write 淤
淤
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Practice writing 淤 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 淤
淤 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 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
Complete the Sentence
你脸上的____伤是怎么搞的？
How did you get that bruise on your cheek?
Example Sentences for 淤 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
你脸上的淤伤是怎么搞的？
nǐ liǎn shàng de yū shāng shì zěn mó gǎo de？
How did you get that bruise on your cheek?
2
从山上冲刷下来的泥土就要让水电大坝淤塞了。
cóng shān shàng chōng shuā xià lái de ní tǔ jiù yào ràng shuǐ diàn dà bà yū sāi le。
The soil washed from the hills is silting up the hydroelectric dams.
3
她身上有严重的淤伤，嘴唇也破了。
tā shēn shàng yǒu yán zhòng de yū shāng， ， zuǐ chún yě pò。
