由 meaning and stroke order
To follow; from; because of; due to
How to write 由, stroke by stroke
5 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
- 5
Meaning of 由
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to follow
- from
- because of; due to
- by; via; through
- (before a noun and a verb) it is for ... to ...
How 由 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. Road 丨 leading to the farm 田.
Radical: 田 (field), shared by 46 characters on this site.
How to remember 由
由 (yóu) is a field 田 with a road 丨 sticking out the top. Picture the path that leads out from the farm: things come from somewhere and follow a route, so 由 means "from" or "because of."
由 often marks a source, a cause, or the person responsible for doing something. It appears in very common words like 自由 (zìyóu, freedom), 理由 (lǐyóu, reason) and 由于 (yóuyú, due to). Example: 这件事由你决定。(Zhè jiàn shì yóu nǐ juédìng.) It is up to you to decide this.
Common mistake: Learners mix up 由 with 甲 (jiǎ) and 申 (shēn). In 由 the vertical stroke sticks out only at the top, in 甲 only at the bottom, and in 申 at both ends. Also, 由 is rising second tone (yóu), not third tone like 有 (yǒu).
Common words with 由
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 自由 | zìyóu | freedom; liberty; free; unrestricted | HSK 2 |
| 理由 | lǐyóu | reason; grounds | HSK 3 |
| 由于 | yóuyú | due to; as a result of | HSK 3 |
| 由此 | yóu cǐ | hereby; from this | HSK 5 |
| 自由自在 | zìyóu-zìzài | free and easy (idiom); carefree; leisurely | HSK 7-9 |
| 不由自主 | bùyóuzìzhǔ | (idiom) can't help but; involuntarily | HSK 7-9 |
| 身不由己 | shēnbùyóujǐ | (idiom) (of one's circumstances) beyond one's control; unable to do anything about it; (of | HSK 7-9 |
| 由衷 | yóuzhōng | heartfelt; sincere | HSK 7-9 |
| 由来 | yóulái | origin | HSK 7-9 |
| 不由得 | bùyóude | can't help; cannot but | HSK 7-9 |
| 由此看来 | yóucǐ-kànlái | thereby; judging from this | HSK 7-9 |
| 由此可见 | yóucǐ-kějiàn | from this, it can be seen that... | HSK 7-9 |
| 任由 | rènyóu | to let (sb do sth); to allow | |
| 藉由 | jièyóu | by means of; through; by |
由 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 由
Learning 由 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 由
How many strokes are in 由?
由 is written with 5 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 由 mean?
由 (yóu) means to follow; from; because of; due to. A common word with it is 自由 (zìyóu), meaning "freedom; liberty; free; unrestricted".
How do you pronounce 由?
由 is pronounced yóu, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 由?
The radical of 由 is 田, which carries the idea of "field". Dictionaries list 由 under this radical.
Is 由 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 由 is part of the HSK 2 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 2.
What is the difference between 由 and 从 for "from"?
从 (cóng) is the everyday word for a starting point in space or time, as in 从北京来 (from Beijing). 由 is more formal and is often used for causes, sources, or who is responsible, as in 由他负责 (he is in charge).
How is 由于 different from 因为?
Both mean "because," but 由于 (yóuyú) sounds more formal and written. 因为 (yīnwèi) is more common in speech and can pair with 所以 freely, while 由于 often pairs with 因此 in writing.