由

yóu
HSK 4
#136 most
frequent character
to follow, from, it is for...to
preposition
conjunction

Character breakdown

Source: Make Me a Hanzi.

由 first showed a kind of vessel or container. The sense 'to follow' was borrowed for its sound, not from the shape. From that came 'cause, owing to', and 'from' was also borrowed for its sound.

Drawn as: vessel or container

由 as a component in other characters

sound17 characters
油抽宙迪邮袖轴笛釉铀柚岫妯鼬蚰舳
picture1 character
冑
empty2 characters
届庙

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Example Sentences

这个问题由你来解决。
zhègè wèntí yóu nǐlái jiějué 。
This problem is for you to solve.
他由我告诉的消息。
tā yóu wǒ gàosù de xiāoxī 。
He got the news from me.
因为下雨，我们由原定的计划改变了。
yīnwèi xiàyǔ ， wǒmen yóu yuándìng de jìhuá gǎibiàn le 。
Because of the rain, we changed our original plan.

Grammar Points

HSK 4
Emphasizing the doer of an action with "you"
HSK 6
Expressing who is in charge with "you... zuozhu"

Homophones

油yóu
oil, fat, grease
游yóu
swim, wander, travel, tour
邮yóu
post (office), mail
尤yóu
outstanding, particularly, especially
犹yóu
as if, (just) like, just as, still

Words Starting With 由

由于yóu yú
due to; as a result of; thanks to; owing to; since; because

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Public Lists with 由

HSK 4
All words for the HSK 4 test