How to Write 盂 (yú) — Meaning “basin”

Imagine you have a "you" (于) shaped bowl that says "yu" and it sits on a flat dish (皿). Picture using this bowl as a spittoon, which is a common word 痰盂. The visual of a container with a lid or opening helps link the shape to the meaning.

Start with the top part 于: first the horizontal stroke, then the two strokes of the crossing horizontal and the vertical hook. Then add the bottom radical 皿 with its four strokes: vertical, horizontal fold, vertical, and the bottom horizontal line. A common mistake is making the top part too large or misaligning the vertical center with the container below.

盂 (yú) means a basin or a general container, often used in words like 痰盂 (spittoon). 盅 (zhōng) means a small cup or wine cup without a handle. Visually, 盂 has the top component 于, while 盅 has the top component 中 (middle), so the upper part differs. Their meanings are distinct: 盂 is larger and for spitting or water, 盅 is for drinking.

盂 appears in words like 痰盂 (spittoon), which is a traditional container in Chinese households, and 水盂 (water basin for calligraphy). It is also used in Buddhist context as 钵盂, the alms bowl of monks. Though not common in daily conversation, it remains in specific cultural and artistic references.

Common words containing 盂 include: 痰盂 (tán yú) — spittoon; cuspidor; 水盂 (shuǐ yú) — Water bowl; 钵盂 (bō yú) — alms bowl (monk's bowl).