尤
Character Story & Explanation
尤 is most commonly used in the compound 尤其 (yóuqí), meaning 'especially' or 'particularly'—a phrase appearing daily in newspapers, official documents, and textbooks. It also appears in classical idioms like 尤物 (yóuwù), historically referring to an extraordinarily beautiful or captivating person (e.g., in Tang dynasty poetry). Modern usage is overwhelmingly in written formal contexts—not casual speech.
The character 尤 evolved from the ancient form 尣, a variant of 尢 (wāng), originally depicting a person with a bent leg—possibly symbolizing 'deviation' or 'exceptionality'. By the Han dynasty, 尤 had taken on its current sense of 'outstanding' or 'excessive', documented in the *Shuōwén Jiězì* (100 CE) dictionary as 'a person who stands out unusually'. Its shape has remained stable since seal script.
Hi students! Let’s learn 尤 (yóu), a small but powerful character with just four strokes. It’s not a standalone word in modern spoken Chinese, but it’s very common as a prefix meaning 'especially', 'particularly', or 'outstanding'. Think of it as adding emphasis—like saying 'not just any problem, but an *especially* serious one'. It appears frequently in formal writing, news reports, and academic texts, so mastering it helps you read higher-level Chinese.
Don’t confuse 尤 with similar-looking characters—it’s built from the radical 尢 (wāng), which historically relates to ‘limping’ or ‘abnormality’, but today carries no such connotation. In modern usage, 尤 almost always functions adverbially, modifying adjectives or verbs. You’ll rarely hear it alone in speech, but you’ll see it often in phrases like 尤其 (yóuqí)—a cornerstone expression meaning 'especially' or 'above all'.
This character is classified at HSK Level 4, meaning it’s essential for intermediate learners aiming to understand nuanced, native-level texts. Its simplicity (only 4 strokes) makes it easy to write—but its grammatical role is subtle. Practice recognizing it in context rather than memorizing it in isolation. Once you spot 尤, ask yourself: *What is being emphasized?* That question unlocks its meaning every time.
Example Sentences
Common Compounds
Similar Characters — Don't Mix These Up
Your First Step into Chinese Culture: Get a Chinese Name
Every journey into Chinese begins with a name. Use our free Chinese name generator to create a meaningful, personalized Chinese name that fits you perfectly.
Get My Chinese Name →