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盂 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
盂yúbasin; cupg, 8 strokes, radical 皿, rank #39938, Very Hard
盂yúwide-mouthed jar or potunknown, 8 strokes, radical 皿, rank #39938, Very Hard
yú(yu2) T2
  1. 1basin; cup
  2. 2wide-mouthed jar or pot
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

盂yú(yu2)

The character 盂 (yú) refers to a wide-mouthed container, such as a basin or cup, often used for holding liquids. It can also describe jars or pots in a broader sense. This character is commonly found in contexts related to cooking or serving food and drink.

Strokes8Radical皿Frequency#39938DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In ancient Chinese culture, 盂 was often used in rituals involving food offerings, highlighting the importance of food presentation in traditional ceremonies. This reflects the cultural significance placed on meals and hospitality.

Memory Tip

Imagine a giant cup (盂) that is so wide-mouthed that you could use it as a basin. The left part resembles a bowl, and the right part can remind you of 'yu' in 'yummy', connecting the character's meaning to food and drink.

Meanings of 盂

yú(yu2)
1basin; cup
2wide-mouthed jar or pot
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 盂

盂Simplified
8Strokes
皿Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 盂

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Podcast: 盂

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AI Study Notes for 盂

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 盂 with similar characters that denote different types of containers. It's mainly used in formal contexts or specific culinary discussions. Be mindful of the tone; 盂 is pronounced with the second tone (yú), which can change the meaning if mispronounced.

HSK Study Tips

Though not part of the official HSK levels, 盂 can be related to other food-related vocabulary. Students should focus on its usage in culinary terms and practice combining it with other food-related characters to enhance their vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

A common mistake is confusing 盂 with 瓦 (wǎ), which means tile, due to similar appearances. Ensure to remember that 盂 is related to containers, while 瓦 relates to building materials.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 盂

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Etymology of 盂

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

Phonosemantic compound. 皿 represents the meaning and 于 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

dish

Semantic (meaning)皿
+
Phonetic (sound)于
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 盂

Phonosemantic compound. 皿 represents the meaning and 于 represents the sound.

  1. 1The meaning half皿 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half于 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaydish
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 盂? 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 盂?

Decomposition of 盂

IDS Structure⿱于皿
盂Full Character
=
于Yu2
top
皿min3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 盂?

How to say basin; cup in Chinese

“basin; cup” in Chinese is盂yú

The character 盂 (yú) refers to a wide-mouthed container, such as a basin or cup, often used for holding liquids. It can also describe jars or pots in a broader sense. This character is commonly found in contexts related to cooking or serving food and drink.

When to use 盂

Learners often confuse 盂 with similar characters that denote different types of containers. It's mainly used in formal contexts or specific culinary discussions. Be mindful of the tone; 盂 is pronounced with the second tone (yú), which can change the meaning if mispronounced.

What learners get wrong

A common mistake is confusing 盂 with 瓦 (wǎ), which means tile, due to similar appearances. Ensure to remember that 盂 is related to containers, while 瓦 relates to building materials.

Write 盂

盂

Practice writing 盂 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 盂

盂 carries 2 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

____县花椒对降血压 、 增进食欲 、 驱寒 、 止痒解腥等都很有帮助.

Yuxian pepper on blood pressure, increase appetite, cold, fishy solution itching and so helpful.

Example Sentences for 盂 (1)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
盂县花椒对降血压 、 增进食欲 、 驱寒 、 止痒解腥等都很有帮助.

yú xiàn huā jiāo duì jiàng xiě yā、 、 zēng jìn shí、 yù 、、 qū hán 、 zhǐ yǎng jiě xīng děng dū hěn.

Yuxian pepper on blood pressure, increase appetite, cold, fishy solution itching and so helpful.

Word Family of 盂

Words Containing This Character7
痰盂spittoon
盂yúbasin
肾盂renal pelvis (medicine)腎盂
盂县Yu county in Yangquan, Shanxi盂縣
钵盂alms bowl缽盂
盂兰盆会Feast of All Souls (fifteenth day of seventh lunar month) (Buddhism)盂蘭盆會
肾盂炎pyelitis (medicine)腎盂炎
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 痰盂 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 盂

It is pronounced as 'yú' with a rising tone.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 盂?

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