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March 24, 2026
淤yū(yu1)
The character 淤 (yū) refers to mud or sediment that accumulates in water bodies, often leading to clogging or siltation. It is commonly used in environmental contexts, particularly when discussing the health of rivers and lakes, as well as in medical terms to describe blockages in the body.
Strokes11Radical氵Frequency#9536DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
淤 is significant in discussions about water management in China, where sedimentation can impact agriculture and fishing. This reflects the importance of water quality and environmental conservation in Chinese culture.
Memory Tip
Imagine a river filled with thick, dark mud that makes it hard for fish to swim. The character 淤 has a water radical (氵) on the left, which suggests its connection to water, while the right side (余) sounds like 'yū' and evokes the idea of something 'left over' or 'accumulated' in the water.
Meanings of 淤
yū(yu1)
1mud, sediment; to clog up, to silt up
2silt
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 淤
淤Simplified
11Strokes
氵Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 淤
Podcast: 淤
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AI Study Notes for 淤
Quick Contrast
沉 (chén, sink) — use 淤 when specifically referring to sediment accumulation in water, while 沉 is broader and can describe anything that sinks.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a river filled with thick, dark mud that makes it hard for fish to swim. The character 淤 has a water radical (氵) on the left, which suggests its connection to water, while the right side (余) sounds like 'yū' and evokes the idea of something 'left over' or 'accumulated' in the water.
Usage Notes
淤 is often used in both formal and informal contexts, but it is more common in technical discussions about environmental science or medicine. Be cautious with pronunciation, as it should be pronounced with a high-level tone (yū), avoiding confusion with similar-sounding characters.
HSK Study Tips
Although not part of the official HSK levels, students studying advanced vocabulary should focus on this character as it relates to natural phenomena and health. It connects to other words like 水 (water) and 泥 (mud), which may appear in HSK materials.
Cultural Note
淤 is significant in discussions about water management in China, where sedimentation can impact agriculture and fishing. This reflects the importance of water quality and environmental conservation in Chinese culture.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 淤 with similar-sounding characters like 瘀 (yū), which has different meanings. For example, saying '我有淤在我的腿' (I have mud in my leg) instead of '我有瘀血在我的腿' (I have bruising in my leg) is incorrect.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 淤
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Grammar Patterns of 淤
淤 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 4 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
你脸上的____伤是怎么搞的？
How did you get that bruise on your cheek?
Example Sentences for 淤 (10)
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1
你脸上的淤伤是怎么搞的？
nǐ liǎn shàng de yū shāng shì zěn mó gǎo de？
How did you get that bruise on your cheek?
2
从山上冲刷下来的泥土就要让水电大坝淤塞了。
cóng shān shàng chōng shuā xià lái de ní tǔ jiù yào ràng shuǐ diàn dà bà yū sāi le。
The soil washed from the hills is silting up the hydroelectric dams.
3
她身上有严重的淤伤，嘴唇也破了。
tā shēn shàng yǒu yán zhòng de yū shāng， ， zuǐ chún yě pò。
Sludges forming in the acid interfere with storage and handling.
10
他把手伸进淤泥里捞摸，结果抓上来一只巨大的蟾蜍。
tā bǎ shǒu shēn jìn yū ní lǐ lāo mō， ， jié guǒ zhuā shàng lái yī zhī jù dà de chán。
He grabbed into the ooze and came up clutching a large toad.
Cultural Notes for 淤
🏮Cultural insight
淤 is significant in discussions about water management in China, where sedimentation can impact agriculture and fishing. This reflects the importance of water quality and environmental conservation in Chinese culture.
Word Family of 淤
Words Containing This Character9
淤yūsilt
淤泥silt
淤血clotted blood
淤积silt淤積
淤塞silted up
出淤泥而不染lit. to grow out of the mud unsullied (idiom)
淤滞silted up淤滯
祛淤to dispel blood stasis (TCM)
淤灌to warp (fertilize land by flooding)
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 淤 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 淤
淤 is pronounced as 'yū', with a high-level tone.
While it may not be common in daily conversations, it is frequently encountered in environmental discussions and certain medical contexts.
Yes, it can be used metaphorically to describe situations that are obstructed or clogged, not just in physical contexts.
