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March 24, 2026
瘐yǔ(yu3)
The character 瘐 (yǔ) conveys the meanings of being cold and hungry, often used in contexts that describe the suffering of mistreated individuals, especially prisoners. It carries a sense of harshness and neglect, implying a lack of care or compassion towards someone in a vulnerable state.
Strokes13Radical疒Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese history, the treatment of prisoners has often been a reflection of societal values, with characters like 瘐 depicting the harsh realities of punishment and neglect in ancient times.
Memory Tip
Imagine a prisoner feeling cold and hungry, shivering in a dark cell. The character 瘐 looks like a person trapped (囗) in a cold place (the bottom part resembles a floor), emphasizing their dire condition. The pronunciation 'yǔ' can be remembered as a 'you' who is in a miserable situation.
Meanings of 瘐
yǔ(yu3)
1cold, hungry; to mistreat a prisoner
2to maltreat (as prisoners)
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About 瘐
瘐Simplified
13Strokes
疒Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 瘐
Podcast: 瘐
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AI Study Notes for 瘐
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a prisoner feeling cold and hungry, shivering in a dark cell. The character 瘐 looks like a person trapped (囗) in a cold place (the bottom part resembles a floor), emphasizing their dire condition. The pronunciation 'yǔ' can be remembered as a 'you' who is in a miserable situation.
Usage Notes
This word is rarely used in daily conversation and is more likely to appear in literary or historical texts. Be cautious with its formal tone; it may not be appropriate for casual discussions. Common collocations include phrases related to imprisonment or suffering.
HSK Study Tips
Although 瘐 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, understanding it can deepen your grasp of more complex characters related to suffering and mistreatment. Focus on recognizing its components to relate it to other characters with similar themes.
Cultural Note
In Chinese history, the treatment of prisoners has often been a reflection of societal values, with characters like 瘐 depicting the harsh realities of punishment and neglect in ancient times.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 瘐 with similar characters that convey different types of suffering or mistreatment. For example, using 瘐 instead of 残 (cán), meaning 'to injure' or 'to damage,' can lead to misunderstandings.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 瘐
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Cultural Notes for 瘐
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese history, the treatment of prisoners has often been a reflection of societal values, with characters like 瘐 depicting the harsh realities of punishment and neglect in ancient times.
Word Family of 瘐
Words Containing This Character1
瘐yǔto maltreat (as prisoners)
Exercise 1 of 1
Compound Meaning
What does 瘐 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 瘐
It is pronounced as 'yǔ'.
No, it is mostly found in literary or historical texts and not in everyday conversation.
Synonyms include characters that relate to suffering, neglect, or imprisonment.
