优 yōu — superior · English

优

yōu

superior

At a glance · 优

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Evolution of the glyph

Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seen
Oracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCE
Seal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCE
Clerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CE
Regular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

⚠ Some ancient forms are not attested：oracle bone form、seal script form。No excavated oracle bone / seal artifact is attested for this character yet; we leave it blank rather than fabricate.

「优」繁体「優」从人憂声，小篆从人憂声，形声清晰。

What the sketch shows

Origins & notes

「优」本义为饶、充足，引申优良、优待、优伶。

Structure

从人、憂(yōu)声，形声字，人表义类，憂表音，本为丰足、优良。

At a glance

Pinyinyōu

Radical亻

Strokes6

UnicodeU+4F18

Character type形声

Theme德行

Six languages, one character

Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.

English superior superior, excellent; actor

Français excellent Excellent, supérieur. «学优登仕» : études excellentes.

Español excelente Excelente, superior. «学优登仕»: estudios excelentes.

العربية ممتاز ممتاز، متفوّق. «学优登仕»: دراسة ممتازة.

Русский отличный Отличный, превосходный. «学优登仕»: отличная учёба.

Common words

优秀yōu xiùexcellent
优良yōu liánggood

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