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优越 (yōu yuè) — superior

Definition

优越 describes a built-in advantage — conditions, position, or environment that is better than others. Compared with the more neutral 优势 (an advantage you can leverage), 优越 emphasizes being innately or structurally superior.

adjective
superior

Examples

  • 优越。
    Zhè ge fāng àn bǐ nà ge fāng àn gèng yōu yuè.
    This plan is more superior than that one.
  • 优越。
    Tā men de chǎn pǐn zài zhì liàng shàng fēi cháng yōu yuè.
    Their products are very superior in quality.
  • 优越，。
    Zhè lǐ de shēng huó tiáo jiàn hěn yōu yuè, hěn duō rén dōu xiǎng bān lái.
    The living conditions here are very superior; many people want to move here.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

优yōuexcellent
越yuèsurpass

优 and 越 both convey excellence and surpassing, so together they mean superior.

Characters in this word

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 優; 优 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
亻Written in full as人rén
Sound part声符shēngfú
憂
憂yōu優yōu
Same sound today

The traditional form 優 combines 亻 (人, person) with 憂 for the sound; the simplified 优 is a later abbreviation.

Open 优 →

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
走走zǒuto walk or run
Sound part声符shēngfú
戉
戉yuè越yuè
Same sound today

越 is built from 走 (to walk or run) and 戉 (which supplies the sound); the 走 part shows the idea of going over or crossing.

Open 越 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Good & Bad

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