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March 24, 2026
优(優)yōu(you1)
The character 优 (yōu) signifies excellence, superiority, or elegance. It is commonly used to describe something or someone that stands out positively in quality or performance, such as 优秀 (yōuxiù) meaning 'outstanding.' This character is often associated with positive attributes in education and personal achievements.
Strokes6Radical亻Frequency#7648DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, being 优秀 (yōuxiù) is highly valued, especially in education and work environments, where individuals are often recognized for their achievements and excellence.
Memory Tip
Imagine a star shining brightly in a clear sky, representing excellence and superiority. The character 优 resembles a person standing tall and proud—think of 'you' as the one who is exceptional and elegant, always standing out from the crowd.
Meanings of 优
yōu(you1)
1excellent
2superior
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 优
优Simplified
優Traditional
6Strokes
亻Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#7648Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 优
Podcast: 优
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AI Study Notes for 优
Quick Contrast
优秀 (yōuxiù) refers specifically to being outstanding or excellent in a particular context, while 优雅 (yōuyǎ) emphasizes elegance and grace, often in manners or aesthetics.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a star shining brightly in a clear sky, representing excellence and superiority. The character 优 resembles a person standing tall and proud—think of 'you' as the one who is exceptional and elegant, always standing out from the crowd.
Usage Notes
优 is often used in both formal and informal contexts, but be cautious of using it inappropriately in casual conversation where simpler terms might suffice. Common collocations include 优秀 (outstanding), 优先 (priority), and 优雅 (elegant). A common mistake is confusing it with 友 (yǒu), which means 'friend.'
HSK Study Tips
While 优 is not explicitly listed in the HSK, it connects to HSK 3 and 4 vocabulary like 优秀 (outstanding) and 优先 (priority). Focus on how to use it in descriptive phrases and understand its role in expressing quality.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, being 优秀 (yōuxiù) is highly valued, especially in education and work environments, where individuals are often recognized for their achievements and excellence.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 优 with 友 (yǒu) due to similar pronunciation. For example, saying 优友 (yōuyǒu) instead of 好友 (hǎoyǒu) can lead to misunderstandings, as the former does not exist in standard Mandarin.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 优
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Grammar Patterns of 优
优 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
The Georgian, aged 19, is not one of the game's big hitters.
6
这位领导人也学会了演奏得更加优美动听。
zhè wèi lǐng dǎo rén yě xué huì le yǎn zòu dé gēng jiā yōu měi dòng tīng。
The leader has also learned to play more melodically.
7
这是一曲优美流畅的电子乐曲。
zhè shì yī qū yōu měi liú chàng de diàn zǐ lè qū。
It was a seamless procession of wonderful electronic music.
8
他没像平时那样优雅庄重地走着，而是几乎跑了起来。
tā méi xiàng píng shí nà yàng yōu yǎ zhuāng zhòng dì zǒu zháo， ， ér shì jī hū pǎo le qǐ。
Instead of moving at his usual stately pace, he was almost running.
9
他的字从小就写得流畅优美。
tā de zì cóng xiǎo jiù xiě dé liú chàng yōu měi。
His handwriting, from earliest young manhood, was flowing and graceful.
10
他确实是战后英国最优秀的拳击手之一。
tā què shí shì zhàn hòu yīng guó zuì yōu xiù de quán jī shǒu zhī yī。
He really was one of the finest boxers in post-war Britain.
Cultural Notes for 优
💡Did you know?
'优' is often used in education and business contexts in China to describe top performers and high-quality products. For instance, a '优等生' refers to an excellent student.
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, being 优秀 (yōuxiù) is highly valued, especially in education and work environments, where individuals are often recognized for their achievements and excellence.
Word Family of 优
Words Containing This Character20
优秀yōuxiùoutstanding優秀
优势yōushìsuperiority優勢
优雅yōuyǎgrace優雅
优yōuexcellent優
优惠yōuhuìprivilege優惠
优先yōuxiānto have priority優先
优点yōudiǎnmerit優點
优质yōuzhìexcellent quality優質
优美yōuměigraceful優美
优化yōuhuàoptimization優化
优良yōuliángfine優良
优惠券coupon優惠券
优越yōuyuèsuperior優越
优异yōuyìexceptional優異
优于to surpass優於
优待preferential treatment優待
优柔寡断indecisive優柔寡斷
葛优Ge You (1957-), Chinese actor葛優
优厚generous, liberal (pay, compensation)優厚
优胜winning優勝
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 优秀 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 优
优 (yōu) generally means excellent or superior, while 优秀 (yōuxiù) specifically means outstanding or exceptional. Both terms convey a sense of high quality, but 优秀 is often used to highlight a higher standard of excellence.
You can use 优 (yōu) in sentences to express excellence or superiority. For example, '他的中文水平很优' means 'His Chinese proficiency is excellent.' This character can also be used in phrases like 优秀 (yōuxiù), which means outstanding.
优 (yōu) means excellent or superior in Chinese. It is often used to describe something of high quality or elegance. This character can be found in various contexts, such as in describing a person’s abilities or the quality of an item.
You can say '他是一个优秀的学生' (Tā shì yīgè yōuxiù de xuéshēng), meaning 'He is an excellent student.'
Yes, but it's more commonly used in formal contexts or when describing significant achievements.
Some synonyms include 出色 (chūsè) and 杰出 (jiéchū), both meaning outstanding or remarkable.
