HSK 3, ng, 4 strokes, radical 又, rank #4301, Medium
友
yǒu
friend, companion; fraternity
HSK 3, ng, 4 strokes, radical 又, rank #4301, Medium
yǒu(you3) T3
1friend
2friend, companion; fraternity
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March 24, 2026
友yǒu(you3)
The character 友 (yǒu) means 'friend' and is commonly used to refer to a companion or someone with whom one shares a close bond. It embodies the idea of friendship and fraternity, often appearing in contexts related to social relationships and camaraderie.
Strokes4Radical又Frequency#4301DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, friendships are highly valued, and 友 reflects the importance of maintaining strong social ties. The concept of 'friendship' often encompasses loyalty and support, which are critical in both personal and professional relationships.
Memory Tip
Imagine a friend (友) who is always there for you, represented by the two parts of the character: the left side, 亻, represents a person, and the right side, 友, sounds like 'yo!'—a casual greeting to a friend. Picture yourself greeting a friend with 'yo!' every time you see them.
Meanings of 友
yǒu(you3)
1friend
2friend, companion; fraternity
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 友
友Simplified
4Strokes
又Radical
名语素míngcínoun root (n.root)Part of Speech
#4301Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L3
Podcast: 友
Podcast: 友
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AI Study Notes for 友
Quick Contrast
朋 (péng) vs 友 (yǒu): Use 友 when emphasizing a close bond or friendship, while 朋 refers more to a companion or associate.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 友 with the similar-sounding characters like 有 (yǒu, to have) or 幼 (yòu, young). It’s important to use 友 in social contexts rather than formal or business environments, as it conveys a sense of closeness.
HSK Study Tips
Although 友 is not included in the HSK levels, it connects well with basic vocabulary related to relationships and social interactions. Students should focus on using it in phrases like 朋友 (péngyǒu, friend) to enhance their conversational skills.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 友 in contexts where a more formal term like 同事 (tóngshì, colleague) would be appropriate, such as saying '我和我的友一起工作' instead of '我和我的同事一起工作'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 友
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Pictograph of two hands togther to convey the meaning "friend".
1The giveawayTwo hands 又 joined, representing friendship; 又 also provides the pronunciation
2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 友? 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 友?
Decomposition of 友
IDS Structure⿸？又
友Full Character
=
又you4
enclosing
Exercise 1 of 1
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 友?
How to say friend in Chinese
“friend” in Chinese is友yǒu
The character 友 (yǒu) means 'friend' and is commonly used to refer to a companion or someone with whom one shares a close bond. It embodies the idea of friendship and fraternity, often appearing in contexts related to social relationships and camaraderie.
When to use 友
Learners often confuse 友 with the similar-sounding characters like 有 (yǒu, to have) or 幼 (yòu, young). It’s important to use 友 in social contexts rather than formal or business environments, as it conveys a sense of closeness.
友 or something close to it
朋 (péng) vs 友 (yǒu): Use 友 when emphasizing a close bond or friendship, while 朋 refers more to a companion or associate.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 友 in contexts where a more formal term like 同事 (tóngshì, colleague) would be appropriate, such as saying '我和我的友一起工作' instead of '我和我的同事一起工作'.
Write 友
友
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Practice writing 友 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 友
友 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 2 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.
