How to Write 柚 (yóu/yòu) — Meaning “pomelo”

Imagine a tree (木) that grows a big fruit shaped like a "post" or pillar (由 looks like a vertical post). This "post-tree" produces pomelos, which are large and round like a post.

The left side 木 has a short horizontal stroke and a vertical stroke with a hook, while the right side 由 has a small vertical stroke that goes through the middle horizontal. Make sure the right side is slightly taller than the left, and don't confuse the order: write 木 first, then 由.

杆 (gǎn) means a pole or rod and uses 干 (dry) as the sound part, while 杈 (chà) means a fork in a tree branch and uses 叉 (fork). Unlike these, 柚 specifically refers to the pomelo fruit or tree, and its right side is 由, not 干 or 叉.

柚 commonly appears in the word 柚子 (yòu zi) meaning pomelo fruit, and 西柚 (xī yòu) means grapefruit. Pomelos are especially popular during the Mid-Autumn Festival in China, where they are eaten as a symbol of family reunion and good luck.

Common words containing 柚 include: 柚子 (yòu zi) — pomelo; 西柚 (xī yòu) — grapefruit; 柚木 (yóu mù) — teak wood.