unknown, 12 strokes, radical 氵, rank #17400, Very Hard
渝
yú
old name of Jialing river 嘉陵江[Jia1 ling2 jiang1] in Sichuan
unknown, 12 strokes, radical 氵, rank #17400, Very Hard
yú(Yu2) T2
1to change; Chongqing
2short name for Chongqing 重慶|重庆[Chong2 qing4]
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
渝yú(Yu2)
The character 渝 (yú) primarily refers to the concept of 'to change' or 'to alternate.' It is also the short name for Chongqing, a major city in southwest China, and historically refers to the Jialing River. In usage, it often denotes transformation or a shift in state.
Strokes12Radical氵Frequency#17400DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
Chongqing, represented by 渝, is known for its spicy hot pot and unique hilly landscape, which plays a significant role in its identity. The city is also famous for its role in China's wartime history during the Second World War.
Memory Tip
Think of 渝 as a river (the radical氵) that changes course. Picture a river flowing in one direction but suddenly deciding to turn around and flow the opposite way. This imagery connects to the pronunciation (yú) and the idea of change.
Meanings of 渝
yú(Yu2)
1to change; Chongqing
2short name for Chongqing 重慶|重庆[Chong2 qing4]
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 渝
渝Simplified
12Strokes
氵Radical
简称abbreviation (abbr.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 渝
Podcast: 渝
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AI Study Notes for 渝
Usage Notes
In formal contexts, 渝 is commonly used in geographic references, particularly when discussing Chongqing or the Jialing River. Learners should be cautious of its tone; it is pronounced in the second tone, which can easily be confused with the first tone if not careful.
HSK Study Tips
Although 渝 is not part of the official HSK levels, it can be connected to HSK 3 vocabulary related to geographical locations. Students should focus on memorizing its associations with Chongqing and the concept of change in various contexts.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 渝 with similar-sounding characters like 于 (yú) or 鱼 (yú), leading to incorrect usage. For example, using 渝 when referring to fish (鱼) is a common mistake.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 渝
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Drill the tone of 渝 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 俞 represents the sound.
1The meaning half氵 carries the sense.
2The sound half俞 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 渝? 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 渝?
Decomposition of 渝
IDS Structure⿰氵俞
渝Full Character
=
氵shui3
left
俞shu4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 渝?
How to say to change; Chongqing in Chinese
“to change; Chongqing” in Chinese is渝yú
The character 渝 (yú) primarily refers to the concept of 'to change' or 'to alternate.' It is also the short name for Chongqing, a major city in southwest China, and historically refers to the Jialing River. In usage, it often denotes transformation or a shift in state.
When to use 渝
In formal contexts, 渝 is commonly used in geographic references, particularly when discussing Chongqing or the Jialing River. Learners should be cautious of its tone; it is pronounced in the second tone, which can easily be confused with the first tone if not careful.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 渝 with similar-sounding characters like 于 (yú) or 鱼 (yú), leading to incorrect usage. For example, using 渝 when referring to fish (鱼) is a common mistake.
Write 渝
渝
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Practice writing 渝 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 渝
渝 carries 3 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 1
Complete the Sentence
尽管他一直宣称对她的爱忠贞不____，她仍然心存怀疑。
Despite his constant protes-tations of devotion and love, her doubts persisted.
Example Sentences for 渝 (1)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
尽管他一直宣称对她的爱忠贞不渝，她仍然心存怀疑。
jìn guǎn tā yī zhí xuān chēng duì tā de ài zhōng zhēn bù yú， ， tā réng rán xīn cún huái。
Despite his constant protes-tations of devotion and love, her doubts persisted.
Word Family of 渝
Words Containing This Character11
渝yúshort name for Chongqing 重慶|重庆[Chóngqìng]
忠贞不渝unswerving in one's loyalty (idiom); faithful and constant忠貞不渝
渝中区Yuzhong (or central Chongqing) district of central Chongqing municipality, formerly in Sichuan渝中區
成渝Chengdu 成都 and Chongqing 重慶|重庆
始终不渝unswerving始終不渝
渝北区Yubei district of central Chongqing municipality, formerly in Sichuan渝北區
周渝民Zhou Yumin or Vic Zhou (1981-), Taiwan singer and actor, member of pop group F4
不渝constant
渝水区Yushui district of Xinyu city 新餘市 新余市, Jiangxi渝水區
坚持不渝to stick to sth without change (idiom); to persevere堅持不渝
坚贞不渝unyielding integrity (idiom); unwavering堅貞不渝
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 渝 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 渝
You can use 渝 in sentences like '重庆是一个美丽的城市' (Chóngqìng shì yī gè měilì de chéngshì), meaning 'Chongqing is a beautiful city.'
While 渝 may not come up frequently in casual conversation, it is important in discussions about geography or when referring to Chongqing.
You might associate the sound 'yú' with 'you' in English, helping you recall both the sound and the character.
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