Meanings of 雨
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About 雨
Podcast: 雨
Podcast: 雨
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AI Study Notes for 雨
雨 (yǔ, rain) vs 雪 (xuě, snow) — use 雨 for precipitation in liquid form, while 雪 refers specifically to frozen precipitation.
When using 雨, it’s important to note that it is often combined with other characters in weather expressions, such as 下雨 (xià yǔ) meaning 'to rain.' Avoid confusing it with 雪 (xuě) which means 'snow,' as both refer to different types of precipitation.
Although 雨 is not explicitly listed in HSK levels, it is a fundamental character that students should recognize early on due to its frequency in daily conversation. Focus on its usage with verbs like 下 (xià) for 'to fall' to form common phrases related to weather.
Learners often confuse 雨 with related characters such as 雪 (snow) or 雷 (thunder). A common mistake is saying '下雷' (xià léi) instead of '下雨' (xià yǔ) to mean 'it is raining.' Always remember that 雨 specifically refers to rain.
Pronunciation of 雨
Drill the tone of 雨 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Etymology of 雨
Pictograph of rain falling from a cloud.
Rain drops falling from a cloud 帀
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 雨
Pictograph of rain falling from a cloud.
- 1The giveawayRain drops falling from a cloud 帀
- 2On the record aspictographic — someone drew the thing itself.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 雨? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 雨?
Decomposition of 雨
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 雨?
How to say rain in Chinese
“rain” in Chinese is雨
The character 雨 (yǔ) means 'rain' in Mandarin. It refers to the precipitation that falls from the sky in the form of water droplets, and can also be used as a verb meaning 'to rain.' Commonly, it is used in weather-related contexts and can be found in expressions describing weather conditions.
When to use 雨
When using 雨, it’s important to note that it is often combined with other characters in weather expressions, such as 下雨 (xià yǔ) meaning 'to rain.' Avoid confusing it with 雪 (xuě) which means 'snow,' as both refer to different types of precipitation.
雨 or something close to it
雨 (yǔ, rain) vs 雪 (xuě, snow) — use 雨 for precipitation in liquid form, while 雪 refers specifically to frozen precipitation.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 雨 with related characters such as 雪 (snow) or 雷 (thunder). A common mistake is saying '下雷' (xià léi) instead of '下雨' (xià yǔ) to mean 'it is raining.' Always remember that 雨 specifically refers to rain.
Write 雨
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Practice writing 雨 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 雨
雨 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 5 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.
Complete the Sentence
下____了！
It's raining!
Example Sentences for 雨 (16)
Word Family of 雨
Compound Meaning
What does 需 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 雨
You would say '下雨了' (xià yǔ le).
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