宇 (yǔ) — (bound form) universe, cosmos; (bound form) eaves, roof
Definition
宇 is a bound form meaning 'universe/cosmos' (宇宙) or 'eaves' (屋宇). It only appears as part of compound words — never alone — so learners encounter it in fixed terms like 宇宙 or 宇航.
bound form
universecosmoseavesroof
Examples
- 。Rén lèi duì yǔ zhòu de tàn suǒ cóng wèi tíng zhǐ.Humanity's exploration of the universe has never stopped.
- 宇。Zhè zuò gǔ dài jiàn zhù de wū yǔ bǎo cún wán hǎo.The eaves of this ancient building are well preserved.
- 。Zhōng guó yǔ háng jì shù fā zhǎn hěn kuài.China's aerospace technology is developing rapidly.
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.
Meaning part形符xíngfú
宀宀miánhouse
宇 pairs 宀, a roof-like shape connected with house parts such as eaves, with 于, which gives the pronunciation.
Appears in
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