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Word

由 (yóu) — Chinese word meaning

HSK 4

由 (yóu) is a Chinese word: by. This page shows its pinyin, translation, example sentences, character breakdown, decomposition, and HSK level.

Meaning of 由

介 jiè preposition

by

这件事由我负责。

zhè jiàn shì yóu wǒ fù zé

This matter is handled by me.

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Word breakdown

由 yóu — by

Words with this character (9)
  • 1 由于 yóu yú — due to HSK 4
    • 由 from, originating from (indicates source or cause)
    • 于 grammatical particle completing the prepositional structure
    Example

    由于天气不好，我们取消了旅行。

    yóu yú tiān qì bù hǎo wǒ men qǔ xiāo le lǚ xíng

    Due to bad weather, we cancelled the trip.

  • 2 理由 lǐ yóu — reason HSK 5
    • 理 logic, principle, sense
    • 由 cause, origin, basis
    Example

    他没有理由拒绝这个提议。

    tā méi yǒu lǐ yóu jù jué zhè ge tí yì

    He has no reason to reject this proposal.

  • 3 由此 yóu cǐ — from this; thus; hereby HSK 5
    • 由 from; by means of (indicating source or cause)
    • 此 this (pointing to something previously mentioned or current)
    Example

    由此可见，教育很重要。

    yóu cǐ kě jiàn jiào yù hěn zhòng yào

    From this it can be seen that education is very important.

  • 4 自由 zì yóu — free HSK 5
    • 自 self, oneself
    • 由 from, through, without constraint
    Example

    他过着自由的生活。

    tā guò zhe zì yóu de shēng huó

    He lives a free life.

  • 5 由来 yóu lái — origin HSK 6
    • 由 from, indicates source or starting point
    • 来 come, indicates emergence or arrival
    Example

    这个节日的由来很有趣。

    zhè ge jié rì de yóu lái hěn yǒu qù

    The origin of this festival is very interesting.

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Structure & writing
1 由 yóu — reason; cause
由 is a component in 12 characters
HSK 3
演 yǎn to evolve; to change gradually 邮 yóu to mail; to send by post
HSK 4
油 yóu oil (liquid fat from animals or plants, or liquid hydrocarbon mixture from minerals) 聘 pìn to hire or appoint someone to a position
HSK 5
届 jiè to arrive at (a certain time) 抽 chōu pull out (something sandwiched between objects)
HSK 6
袖 xiù sleeve (of a garment)
HSK 7
宙 zhòu all time; eternity (past and present) 庙 miào ancestral shrine (where ancestral tablets are enshrined) 笛 dí dizi (Chinese transverse bamboo flute) 轴 zhóu axle; shaft (cylindrical mechanical part around which wheels or components rotate) 迪 dí (lit.) to enlighten; to guide

由 is an atomic character — it does not decompose further.

Stroke order