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March 24, 2026
由yóu(you2)
The character 由 (yóu) primarily indicates a sense of following or causation. It can denote the source of an action, often translating to 'from' or 'due to' in various contexts, and is also used to introduce passive constructions. Its usage is common in both formal and informal contexts, especially in expressions of reason or cause.
Strokes5Radical田Frequency#573DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of cause and effect is deeply rooted in philosophical traditions, such as Daoism and Confucianism, where understanding the reasons behind actions is essential for moral and ethical living.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person leaving a path (由) behind them, suggesting they are following a route or coming from a particular place. The character is composed of a radical that resembles a path (the bottom part) and a component suggesting a sense of direction or origin.
Meanings of 由
yóu(you2)
1to follow
2from
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 由
由Simplified
5Strokes
田Radical
介词jiècípreposition (prep.)Part of Speech
#573Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L4ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2CEFRA2
Podcast: 由
Podcast: 由
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AI Study Notes for 由
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person leaving a path (由) behind them, suggesting they are following a route or coming from a particular place. The character is composed of a radical that resembles a path (the bottom part) and a component suggesting a sense of direction or origin.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 由 with similar characters like 从 (cóng), which also indicates 'from' but with a slightly different nuance. It's commonly used in formal writing and legal contexts, and learners should note its role in passive sentences, where it introduces the doer of the action.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 4 word, 由 connects with other words related to causation and direction, such as 从 (cóng) and 使 (shǐ). Focus on its use in complex sentences to express reasons and causes, and practice recognizing it in passive constructions.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of cause and effect is deeply rooted in philosophical traditions, such as Daoism and Confucianism, where understanding the reasons behind actions is essential for moral and ethical living.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 由 with 由来 (yóulái), which means 'origin'. For example, saying '这由我做' (This is done by me) should be corrected to '这是我做的' (This was done by me), as 由 does not stand alone in this context.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 由
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Grammar Patterns of 由
由 functions as a preposition (often called a "coverb" in Chinese). It introduces a phrase that comes BEFORE the main verb (我在家吃饭, 给妈妈打电话), unlike English which puts prepositions after the verb. It carries 10 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The patterns below break down its most common sentence frames, with example sentences and practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) for each one.
Spelling mistakes are often just the result of haste.
9
雇主以种族或国籍为由歧视员工是非法的。
gù zhǔ yǐ zhǒng zú huò guó jí wéi yóu qí shì yuán gōng shì fēi fǎ de。
Discrimination by employers on the grounds of race and nationality was illegal.
10
海沃德艺术展是由艺术家伯纳德·吕蒂组织的。
hǎi wò dé yì shù zhǎn shì yóu yì shù jiā bó nà dé· · lǚ dì zǔ zhī。
The Hayward exhibition has been curated by the artist Bernard Luthi.
Cultural Notes for 由
💡Did you know?
'由' is often used in expressions related to authority and causation, such as '由我决定' (decided by me) and '由此可见' (from this, it can be seen), emphasizing the role of the subject in determining outcomes.
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of cause and effect is deeply rooted in philosophical traditions, such as Daoism and Confucianism, where understanding the reasons behind actions is essential for moral and ethical living.
Word Family of 由
Compounds39
迪di2to advance, to enlighten, to make progress
油you2oil
画hua4to draw
抽chou1to draw out
邮you2post (office)
宙zhou4universe
袖xiu4sleeve
届jie4to arrive at (place or time)
笛di2bamboo flute; whistle
轴zhou2axle, pivot, shaft; axis
庙miao4temple
鼬you4weasel, mustela itatis
柚you4grapefruit, pomelo
铀you2uranium
釉you4enamel, glaze
寅yin2to respect, to revere; respectfully; 3rd terrestrial branch
胄zhou4helmet; descendant
妯zhou2sister-in law
苖
冑zhou4helmet
岫xiu4mountain peak; cave, cavern
峀
廸
怞
甹ping1chivalrous knight
畁
舳zhu2the stern of a ship
蚰you2millipede
頔
伷
牰
秞
粙
紬
軸zhou2axle, pivot, shaft; axis
鈾you2uranium
駎
鮋
鲉
Words Containing This Character20
由yóufrom
由于yóuyúdue to由於
自由zìyóufreedom
理由lǐyóureason
由此yóucǐhereby
不由can't help (doing sth)
不由自主bùyóuzìzhǔcan't help; involuntarily (idiom)
不由得bùyóudecan't help
由衷yóuzhōngheartfelt
由此可见yóucǐkějiànfrom this, it can be seen that...由此可見
缘由reason緣由
自由自在zìyóuzìzàileisurely
任由to allow
自由主义liberalism自由主義
经由via經由
路由器router (computing)
身不由己shēnbùyóujǐnot of one's own volition
自由基free radical
由来yóuláiorigin由來
听天由命to submit to the will of heaven聽天由命
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 迪 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 由
由 (yóu) and 从 (cóng) both indicate a starting point or source, but 由 often emphasizes the reason or cause behind an action, while 从 typically denotes a more straightforward physical or temporal origin. For example, 从 can be used for directions, whereas 由 focuses on causation.
You should use 由 when you want to indicate a reason or cause, while 以 (yǐ) is used to express means or methods. For instance, '由此可见' (From this, it can be seen) emphasizes the cause, while '以此为基础' (Based on this) emphasizes the method.
由 (yóu) means 'to follow' or 'from', and it can also imply a reason or cause for something. It is often used in sentences to indicate the source of an action or to express causation.
You can use 由 to indicate the origin of an action, as in '这件事是由我负责的' (This matter is my responsibility). It can also be used to express causation, such as '因为下雨，活动由此取消' (Due to the rain, the event is canceled).
In passive constructions, 由 introduces the agent performing the action, for example, '这本书是我写的' translates to 'This book was written by me'.
Yes, 由 is commonly used in both spoken and written Mandarin, particularly when explaining reasons or origins.
Yes, 由此 (yóu cǐ) means 'from this' or 'therefore', linking the reason more explicitly to a conclusion or result.
