yòu

囿

Character · Noun · Verb

animal enclosure; be confined to

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

2 senses · 5 examples
1.

noun

enclosed ground for raising animals; park; preserve

literary

Literary term, often used in classical Chinese or formal contexts referring to royal hunting parks or animal enclosures.

Gǔ古
dài代
de的
dì帝
wáng王
cháng常
cháng常
jiàn建
zào造
yuán园
yòu囿
lái来
sì饲
yǎng养
zhēn珍
qín禽
yì异
shòu兽
 。

Ancient emperors often built enclosures to raise rare birds and beasts.

Zhè这
piàn片
lù鹿
yòu囿
lǐ里
yǎng养
le了
shàng上
bǎi百
zhī只
méi梅
huā花
lù鹿
 。

This deer park houses hundreds of sika deer.

2.

verb

to limit; to restrict; to be confined to

formal

Often used in the pattern 囿于 (yòu yú) meaning 'to be limited/confined to'.

Wǒ我
men们
bù不
néng能
yòu囿
yú于
chuán传
tǒng统
guān观
niàn念
 ，
yào要
yǒng勇
yú于
chuàng创
xīn新
 。

We cannot be confined to traditional concepts; we must be brave in innovating.

Tā他
de的
yán研
jiū究
yòu囿
yú于
chéng成
jiàn见
 ，
quē缺
fá乏
kè客
guān观
xìng性
 。

His research is limited by prejudice and lacks objectivity.

Show 1 more example
Bù不
yào要
yòu囿
yú于
shū书
běn本
zhī知
shi识
 ，
hái还
yào要
zhù注
zhòng重
shí实
jiàn践
 。

Do not be confined to book knowledge; practical experience is also important.