How to Write 寓 (yù) — Meaning “To reside; to imply.”

Picture a roof (宀) over a monkey (禺) living in an apartment. The monkey can't speak directly, so it uses gestures to imply its needs. This image connects the meaning 'to reside' with the idea of 'implying' something indirectly.

The top radical 宀 must be wide enough to cover the lower part 禺. A common mistake is making the roof too narrow. Also, within 禺, the lower rectangular part has a vertical stroke inside that should not touch the bottom horizontal stroke.

寓 (yù) means to reside or imply, while 宰 (zǎi) means to slaughter or govern, and 害 (hài) means harm or disaster. Visually, 寓 has 禺 below the roof, 宰 has 辛 (spicy/bitter) below, and 害 has a different lower part that resembles 口 surrounded by strokes. They share the roof radical but differ greatly in meaning and lower components.

寓 appears in words like 公寓 (apartment) and 寓言 (fable, a story with a moral lesson). It is also used in 寓意 (implied meaning), often in literature or speeches to discuss the hidden message. Though not in HSK, you may encounter it in real estate, storytelling, or philosophical contexts.

Common words containing 寓 include: 公寓 (gōng yù) — Apartment; 寓言 (yù yán) — Fable; parable.; 寓意 (yù yì) — Implied meaning; moral..