悠 (yōu) — (verb) to be leisurely, unhurried; (verb) to be distant in time or space; long-standing; (verb) to be melodious, pleasant-sounding
Definition
悠 is a literary, single-character adjective-verb used to describe something leisurely, long-standing, or melodiously drawn-out — it almost always appears as part of a set word (悠闲, 悠久, 悠扬) rather than on its own.
verb
to be leisurelyunhurriedto be distant in time or spacelong-standingto be melodiouspleasant-sounding
Easily confused
- 憋biēlook-aliketo hold (one's breath); to hold back (urine)
- 呦yōusound-alike(interjection) oh! (expressing surprise, dismay, or sudden realization)
- 优yōusound-alike(bound form) excellent, superior (e.g., 优秀 yōuxiù, 优美 yōuměi)
- 幽yōusound-alike(bound form) remote and secluded
- 忧yōusound-alikeworry, anxiety, sorrow (bound form, used in compounds)
- 攸yōusound-alike(b.f., literary) that which; the place where (classical particle); (in the compound 攸关) of vital concern
Examples
- 。Tā tuì xiū hòu guò zhe yōu xián de shēng huó.He lives a leisurely life after retirement.
- 。Zhè ge guó jiā yǒu yōu jiǔ de lì shǐ.This country has a long history.
- 。Yuǎn chù chuán lái yōu yáng de qín shēng.From afar comes the melodious sound of a zither.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
悠 pairs 攸, which gives the sound, with 心, meaning heart or mind.
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