How to Write 猷 (yóu) — Meaning “plan or strategy”

Imagine a tribal chief (酋) standing with a loyal dog (犬) while planning a hunt. The dog represents the execution of the plan, helping you recall that 猷 means 'strategy' or 'grand plan'.

The left part 酋 has a horizontal stroke that must cross through the top, and the bottom component 酉 should be balanced. The right part 犬 must have its dot placed above the horizontal stroke, not inside. Keep the whole character compact, as the 13 strokes can make it look messy if not carefully proportioned.

猷 (yóu) has a 酋 on the left and 犬 on the right, meaning 'strategy'. 猋 (biāo) is three 犬 stacked, meaning 'swift dogs' or 'wind'. 猒 (yàn) has a 犬 inside a 厂-like enclosure, meaning 'to be full' or 'satiated'. The key difference is the left side: 猷 uses 酋, while the others use multiple dogs or a different radical.

猷 is a literary character, rarely used in daily conversation, but appears in formal or classical texts and idioms like 宏猷 (grand plan) and 鸿猷 (great strategy). It carries a sense of noble ambition, often describing the grand designs of leaders or historical figures in writings about politics, management, or ancient philosophy.

Common words containing 猷 include: 宏猷 (hóng yóu) — Grand plan / Great strategy; 鸿猷 (hóng yóu) — Grand strategy / Great plan; 猷略 (yóu lüè) — strategy or grand plan.