又

yòu

HSK 2.0Level 3

HSK 3.0Level 3

Frequency#126

Definitions

yòu (adverb) again; once more

yòu (adverb) also; in addition

yòu (particle) both... and...; and yet

Etymology

Pictograph of a hand. The character is based on the original meaning "hand". The current meaning "again" is a phonetic loan.

About

The character 又 originated as a pictographic representation of a right hand, which was its original meaning. Through phonetic borrowing in early Chinese, it gradually adopted grammatical functions, evolving into an adverb indicating repetition or addition in classical usage. Its initial hand-related sense faded, and in modern Chinese, it primarily functions as an adverb meaning "again" or as a conjunction equivalent to "and". Structurally, it is a simple, indecomposable character with no traditional form that was simplified.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Warring States (~300 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

今天又下雨了。

Jīntiān yòu xià yǔ le.

It is raining again today.

我又忘了带钥匙。

Wǒ yòu wàng le dài yàoshi.

I forgot to bring the key again.

她又是第一名。

Tā yòu shì dì yī míng.

She is the first place again.

他又高又帅。

Tā yòu gāo yòu shuài.

He is tall and handsome.

这个问题又复杂又重要。

Zhège wèntí yòu fùzá yòu zhòngyào.

This problem is both complex and important.

他昨天来了，今天又来了。

Tā zuótiān lái le, jīntiān yòu lái le.

He came yesterday and came again today.

这部电影又感人又有趣。

Zhè bù diànyǐng yòu gǎnrén yòu yǒuqù.

This movie is both touching and interesting.

他不仅工作努力，又经常帮助同事。

Tā bùjǐn gōngzuò nǔlì, yòu jīngcháng bāngzhù tóngshì.

He not only works hard, but also often helps colleagues.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 又

Example Words