自幼 (zì yòu) — from childhood, since one's early years

Definition

Literary/literary-colloquial way to say 'from childhood', stronger and more bookish than 从小. Often pairs with 就 to emphasize something started very early.

verb
from childhoodsince one's early years

Examples

  • 自幼。
    Tā zì yòu xué xí shū fǎ.
    He has been learning calligraphy since childhood.
  • 自幼。
    Tā zì yòu shēng huó zài xiāng xia.
    She has lived in the countryside since childhood.
  • 自幼。
    Wǒ zì yòu jiù xǐ huan dú shū.
    I have liked reading since childhood.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

自zìfrom
幼yòuyoung

自 gives the starting point, 幼 gives the early years.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

假借jiǎjièLater borrowed for its sound alone — the picture has nothing to do with today’s meaning.

自 originally drew a nose. It was borrowed purely for its sound to write 自, so the picture and the meaning are unrelated.

Open 自 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

幼 is built from 幺, shown as tiny, and 力, shown as strength. 幺 may also contribute the sound.

Open 幼 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.