尤 meaning and stroke order
Especially, particularly
How to write 尤, stroke by stroke
4 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
Meaning of 尤
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- outstanding
- particularly, especially
- a fault
- to express discontentment against
How 尤 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character.
尢 hints at the sound.
Radical: 尢 (weak), shared by 7 characters on this site.
How to remember 尤
尤 (yóu) is built from 尢 (wāng), which also gives the sound, plus one extra dot 丶. Picture that single dot as a mark that makes something stand out, so 尤 means "especially" or "outstanding."
Today 尤 almost always appears in words like 尤其 (yóuqí) and 尤为 (yóuwéi), which put extra emphasis on one item in a group. Example: 我喜欢水果，尤其是苹果。(Wǒ xǐhuan shuǐguǒ, yóuqí shì píngguǒ.) I like fruit, especially apples.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 尤 (yóu) with 犹 (yóu, as in 犹豫 yóuyù "hesitate") because they sound the same, or mix it up with 龙 (lóng) and 优 (yōu) because the shapes look alike. Remember that 尤 has no 亻 or 犭 on the left and only one dot.
Common words with 尤
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
尤 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 尤
Learning 尤 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 尤
How many strokes are in 尤?
尤 is written with 4 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 尤 mean?
尤 (yóu) means especially, particularly. A common word with it is 尤其 (yóuqí), meaning "especially; particularly".
How do you pronounce 尤?
尤 is pronounced yóu, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 尤?
The radical of 尤 is 尢, which carries the idea of "weak". Dictionaries list 尤 under this radical.
Is 尤 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 尤 is part of the HSK 5 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 3.
What is the difference between 尤其 and 特别?
Both can mean "especially." 尤其 is a little more formal and is used to single out one item from a group mentioned before. 特别 (tèbié) can also mean "special" as an adjective, which 尤其 cannot.
What does 怨天尤人 mean?
怨天尤人 (yuàn tiān yóu rén) means to blame heaven and other people for your troubles. Here 尤 uses its older sense of "to blame" or "to complain against."