油

yóu

氵 + 由

HSK 3.0Level 4

Definitions

yóu (noun) oil; grease; petroleum

yóu (verb) to apply oil; paint; varnish

yóu (adjective) oily; greasy

yóu (adjective) glib; cunning

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 由 represents the sound.

Semantic: 氵 Phonetic: 由

About

油 is a phono-semantic compound: the water radical 氵 signifies a liquid, while 由 indicates the pronunciation. It originally referred to oil, grease, or any viscous liquid obtained from animal fat, plant seeds, or petroleum, and used for cooking, lubrication, or fuel. From this sense of greasiness, it came to describe slippery or greasy surfaces, and then figuratively characterizes a person who is glib, cunning, or insincere.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Mid Warring States (~300 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

妈妈用油炒菜。

Māma yòng yóu chǎocài.

Mom uses oil to cook.

汽车需要汽油。

Qìchē xūyào qìyóu.

Cars need gasoline.

我喜欢吃酱油面。

Wǒ xǐhuān chī jiàngyóu miàn.

I like eating noodles with soy sauce.

石油是一种重要资源。

Shíyóu shì yī zhǒng zhòngyào zīyuán.

Petroleum is an important resource.

油炸食品不健康。

Yóuzhá shípǐn bù jiànkāng.

Fried food is not healthy.

润滑油减少机器摩擦。

Rùnhuáyóu jiǎnshǎo jīqì mócā.

Lubricating oil reduces machine friction.

植物油比动物油更健康。

Zhíwù yóu bǐ dòngwù yóu gèng jiànkāng.

Vegetable oil is healthier than animal oil.

油价上涨影响经济。

Yóujià shàngzhǎng yǐngxiǎng jīngjì.

Rising oil prices affect the economy.

Related Characters

Component: 氵

Component: 由

油