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March 24, 2026
郁(欝)yù(yu4)
The character 郁 (yù) primarily conveys meanings related to elegance, density, and melancholy. It is often associated with lush, dense vegetation and can describe a feeling of deep sadness or melancholy. In some contexts, it represents a surname, Yu, and can also serve as a variant of the character 鬱 (yù), which emphasizes emotional weight.
Strokes8Radical阝Frequency#29711DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese poetry, the imagery of dense, lush landscapes often symbolizes complex emotions, such as sorrow or nostalgia. 郁 is frequently found in classical texts describing the beauty and melancholy of nature, reinforcing the deep cultural connection between nature and emotional expression.
Memory Tip
Imagine a dense, elegant garden filled with vibrant flowers. The character 郁 resembles a garden's lush growth, with its towering components suggesting dense flora. The pronunciation 'yù' can be remembered by thinking of 'you', as in 'you feel dense sadness in this beautiful garden'.
Meanings of 郁
yù(yu4)
1elegant
2dense (growth)
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 郁 means.
About 郁
郁Simplified
欝Traditional
8Strokes
阝Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#29711Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5
Podcast: 郁
Podcast: 郁
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AI Study Notes for 郁
Quick Contrast
郁 (yù) vs 鬱 (yù) — use 郁 for elegance or lushness, while 鬱 emphasizes emotional weight or depression.
Usage Notes
郁 tends to be used in more formal contexts or literary works, which can lead to confusion with its more common variant 鬱. Learners should be careful not to confuse the two characters when discussing themes of melancholy. It often appears in phrases describing emotional states or rich natural environments.
HSK Study Tips
While 郁 is not included in any HSK level lists, it offers good practice for learners at higher levels to understand nuanced expressions of emotion. Students should focus on its connections to nature and feelings, as similar vocabulary often appears in literature and poetry.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 郁 with 鬱, mistakenly using 郁 in contexts where 鬱 would be more appropriate, such as discussing severe depression. For example, saying '我很郁' (I am very yù) should be corrected to '我很鬱' (I am very yù, referring to depression).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 郁
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How Well Do You Know 郁?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 郁 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.
郁 = 阝 + 有. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 郁
IDS Structure⿰有阝
郁Full Character
=
有you3
left
阝yi4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 郁?
How to say surname Yu in Chinese
“surname Yu” in Chinese is郁yù
The character 郁 (yù) primarily conveys meanings related to elegance, density, and melancholy. It is often associated with lush, dense vegetation and can describe a feeling of deep sadness or melancholy. In some contexts, it represents a surname, Yu, and can also serve as a variant of the character 鬱 (yù), which emphasizes emotional weight.
When to use 郁
郁 tends to be used in more formal contexts or literary works, which can lead to confusion with its more common variant 鬱. Learners should be careful not to confuse the two characters when discussing themes of melancholy. It often appears in phrases describing emotional states or rich natural environments.
郁 or something close to it
郁 (yù) vs 鬱 (yù) — use 郁 for elegance or lushness, while 鬱 emphasizes emotional weight or depression.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 郁 with 鬱, mistakenly using 郁 in contexts where 鬱 would be more appropriate, such as discussing severe depression. For example, saying '我很郁' (I am very yù) should be corrected to '我很鬱' (I am very yù, referring to depression).
Write 郁
郁
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Grammar Patterns of 郁
郁 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 6 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
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
埃勒里的归来可以驱散一些抑____的情绪。
Ellery's return will help to chase away some of the gloom.
Example Sentences for 郁 (10)
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1
埃勒里的归来可以驱散一些抑郁的情绪。
āi lè lǐ de guī lái kě yǐ qū sàn yī xiē yì yù de qíng xù。
Ellery's return will help to chase away some of the gloom.
