油 (yóu) - Meaning, Stroke Order, Words & Examples

Q: What does 油 (yóu) mean in Chinese?

The Chinese character 油 (yóu) means "Oil". It is an HSK Level 2 character, with 8 strokes and the radical 氵.

Q: How do you write 油 stroke by stroke?

油 has 8 strokes. The radical is 氵. Follow the standard stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. Practice with stroke animation to build muscle memory.

Q: What's the difference between 油 and 㳄?

油 (yóu) and 㳄 look similar but differ in meaning and usage. Check the radical and stroke count to tell them apart.

Q: What mistakes do learners make writing 油?

Common mistake: incorrect stroke order or miswriting the radical 氵. Pay attention to the proportion between components — keep the radical compact.

Q: What common words use 油?

Common words containing 油 include: 加油 (jiā yóu) — cheer on; refuel; make an extra effort; 酱油 (jiàng yóu) — soy sauce; 奶油 (nǎi yóu) — Cream.

How to Write 油

The character 油 (yóu) is written with 8 strokes. Follow the standard Chinese stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. The radical 氵 is one of its key components.

Practice the correct stroke order with the Hanzi Writer app to see animated stroke-by-stroke guidance with real-time feedback.

Meaning & Pronunciation

油 is pronounced yóu in Mandarin Chinese. It means Oil.

As an HSK Level 2 character, 油 is among the first characters beginners learn.

Common Words with 油

加油 jiā yóu

cheer on; refuel; make an extra effort

酱油 jiàng yóu

soy sauce

奶油 nǎi yóu

Cream

Example Sentences

比赛时大家都在加油。

bǐ sài shí dà jiā dōu zài jiā yóu

Everyone was cheering during the match.

炒菜时放一点酱油。

chǎo cài shí fàng yì diǎn jiàng yóu

Add a little soy sauce when stir-frying.

蛋糕上面有很多奶油。

dàn gāo shàng miàn yǒu hěn duō nǎi yóu

There is a lot of cream on the cake.

Similar Characters

㳄 xián

汊 chà

汐 xī

Practice Writing 油 (yóu)

Open Hanzi Writer to see the animated stroke order and practice writing 油 with real-time feedback.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 油

What does 油 (yóu) mean in Chinese?

How do you write 油 stroke by stroke?

What's the difference between 油 and 㳄?

What mistakes do learners make writing 油?

What common words use 油?

How to Write 油 (yóu)