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黝 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
黝
yǒu
black
z, 17 strokes, radical 黑, rank #46645, Very Hard
黝
yǒu
dark green
unknown, 17 strokes, radical 黑, rank #46645, Very Hard
yǒu(you3)you T3
1black
2dark green
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
黝yǒu(you3)
The character 黝 (yǒu) primarily means 'black' or 'dark green'. It is often used in contexts related to colors, particularly to describe darker shades. This term can also convey a sense of depth and richness in color, frequently appearing in literary or poetic texts.
Strokes17Radical黑Frequency#46645DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In traditional Chinese culture, colors have deep symbolic meanings. The use of 黝 can evoke feelings of mystery or elegance, often found in poetry and art that explores themes of nature and darkness.
Memory tip
Think of the character 黝 as a deep, dark shadow (the black color) casting over a green landscape. The left side (黑 hēi) resembles a shadow, while the right side (尤 yóu) evokes the idea of something particularly dark or deep. Imagine a black forest at night to help remember 'yǒu' and its meaning.
Meanings of 黝
yǒu(you3)
1black
2dark green
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 黝 means.
About 黝
黝Simplified
17Strokes
黑Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 黝
Podcast: 黝
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AI study notes for 黝
Quick Contrast
黯 (àn) - use 黝 (yǒu) for darker shades with richness, while 黯 (àn) often implies a sense of gloom or sadness.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 黝 with similar characters like 黑 (hēi), which also means black but is more commonly used. This word is more formal and literary, so it’s less likely to be used in everyday conversations. Be mindful of the third tone, as mispronunciation can lead to confusion with other words.
HSK Study Tips
While 黝 is not included in HSK vocabulary lists, it connects with words describing colors, which are frequently encountered at HSK Level 3 and above. Focus on recognizing the tone and context in which this character appears, especially in written texts.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 黝 with the more common 黑 (hēi), using it inappropriately in casual contexts. For example, saying '我喜欢黝的颜色' instead of '我喜欢黑色' (I like black).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 黝
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Tone practice
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How well do you know 黝?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 黝 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.
黝 = 黑 + 幼. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 黝
IDS Structure⿰黑幼
黝Full character
=
黑Hei1
left
幼you4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 黝?
How to say black in Chinese
“black” in Chinese is黝yǒu
The character 黝 (yǒu) primarily means 'black' or 'dark green'. It is often used in contexts related to colors, particularly to describe darker shades. This term can also convey a sense of depth and richness in color, frequently appearing in literary or poetic texts.
When to use 黝
Learners often confuse 黝 with similar characters like 黑 (hēi), which also means black but is more commonly used. This word is more formal and literary, so it’s less likely to be used in everyday conversations. Be mindful of the third tone, as mispronunciation can lead to confusion with other words.
黝 or something close to it
黯 (àn) - use 黝 (yǒu) for darker shades with richness, while 黯 (àn) often implies a sense of gloom or sadness.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 黝 with the more common 黑 (hēi), using it inappropriately in casual contexts. For example, saying '我喜欢黝的颜色' instead of '我喜欢黑色' (I like black).
Write 黝
黝
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Practice writing 黝 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 黝
黝 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 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
他们在海边呆了几个星期，皮肤晒得____黑发亮。
Their skin was tanned and glowing from their weeks at the sea.
Example sentences for 黝 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
他们在海边呆了几个星期，皮肤晒得黝黑发亮。
tāmen zài hǎibiān dāi le jǐ gè xīngqī， pífū shài de yǒu hēi fā liàng。
Their skin was tanned and glowing from their weeks at the sea.
2
他是个身材修长、表情庄重、皮肤黝黑的帅小伙。
tā shì gè shēncái xiūcháng、 biǎoqíng zhuāngzhòng、 pífū yǒu hēi de shuài xiǎo huǒ。
