郁

欝/鬰/鬱

yù

有 + 阝

Definitions

yù (adjective) dense; thick (of vegetation)

yù (adjective) melancholy; depressed

yù (adjective) elegant; refined

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 阝 represents the meaning and 有 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鬱.

Semantic: 阝 Phonetic: 有

About

郁 began as a phonosemantic compound, with 有 (yǒu) for sound and 阝 for meaning, and originally meant "elegant" or "refined". It later became the simplified form of the traditional character 鬱, which includes the component 林 (forest) and conveys the ideas of lush, thick vegetation and a powerful, concentrated fragrance. The dense, crowded appearance of 鬱 then inspired figurative meanings related to psychological states: feeling gloomy, pent-up, or emotionally stagnant. Today, the simplified 郁 carries all these meanings, describing both richly fragrant or verdant settings and heavy, melancholic moods, with context determining the intended sense.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

郁金香很美。

Yùjīnxiāng hěn měi.

Tulips are very beautiful.

我今天有点郁闷。

Wǒ jīntiān yǒudiǎn yùmèn.

I am a little depressed today.

咖啡的味道很浓郁。

Kāfēi de wèidào hěn nóngyù.

The coffee has a rich flavor.

她的眼神中带着忧郁。

Tā de yǎnshén zhōng dàizhe yōuyù.

There is melancholy in her eyes.

他心中郁结着烦恼。

Tā xīnzhōng yùjiézhe fánnǎo.

He has pent-up worries in his heart.

夏天的夜晚非常郁热。

Xiàtiān de yèwǎn fēicháng yùrè.

Summer nights are very sultry.

森林里弥漫着浓郁的木香。

Sēnlín lǐ mímànzhe nóngyù de mùxiāng.

The forest is filled with the rich scent of wood.

长期忧郁可能导致心理健康问题。

Chángqī yōuyù kěnéng dǎozhì xīnlǐ jiànkāng wèntí.

Long-term melancholy may lead to mental health issues.

Related Characters

Component: 有

Component: 阝

郁