犹 (yóu) — (adv.) still, yet (used in formal or literary contexts to indicate continuity); (adv.) just like, as if (used in comparisons, often in 犹如, 过犹不及, etc.)

Definition

犹 (yóu) is a literary adverb meaning 'still/yet' or 'just like' — used almost entirely in fixed phrases like 犹如, 记忆犹新, and 过犹不及, not in everyday speech.

adverb
(adv.) stillyet (used in formal or literary contexts to indicate continuity)(adv.) just likeas if (used in comparisons, often in 犹如, 过犹不及, etc.)
Easily confused

Examples

  • ，。
    Zhè jiàn shì wǒ jì de hěn qīng chǔ, jì yì yóu xīn.
    I remember this matter very clearly; it is still fresh in my memory.
  • 。
    Tā de shēng yīn yóu rú tiān lài.
    His voice is just like the sounds of nature.
  • 犹。
    Tā men suī bài yóu róng.
    Although they lost, they are still glorious.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 猶; 犹 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
犬犬quǎndog
Sound part声符shēngfú
酋
酋qiú猶yóu
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 猶 combines 犬 (dog) with 酋 as a sound part, and the evidence identifies it as a kind of monkey. The simplified 犹 is a shorthand, not the historical shape.

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