How to Write 囿 (yòu) — Meaning “Enclosure / To limit / To be constrained”

Imagine a square enclosure (囗) with a friend inside saying "I have (有) to stay here" - they are limited to that space. This visual of someone trapped in a box can help you recall that 囿 means to be confined or constrained.

Write the outer box 囗 first, making sure it is wide enough to contain the inner part. Then write 有 inside, centered and not touching the box walls - a common mistake is making the inner component too large or off-center.

While 囿 has 有 (you, meaning to have) inside, 囤 (dùn) contains 屯 (tún, to store) and means a granary or to hoard, and 囫 (hú) contains 勿 (wù, do not) and appears in 囫囵 (húlún, whole). Visually, the inner components differ; functionally, only 囿 conveys the idea of being limited or constrained.

囿 is a formal, literary character used to express limitation, as in 囿于 (yòu yú) meaning "to be confined or limited by" something, like 囿于成见 (limited by prejudice). It also appears in classical terms like 园囿 (garden or enclosed park), but is rarely used in everyday conversation.

Common words containing 囿 include: 囿于 (yòu yú) — To be limited by / To be confined to; 园囿 (yuán yòu) — Garden / Park / Enclosure; 局囿 (jú yòu) — to be limited; to be confined.