yōu

优

HSK 7-9Character · Adjective · Verb · NounTraditional優

excellent; preferential treatment; actor; surname

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

5 senses · 22 examples
1.

adjective

excellent; fine; good (opposite of 'bad')

Used to describe quality, condition, or performance that meets high standards.

Zhè这
jiā家
cān餐
tīng厅
de的
fàn饭
cài菜
wèi味
dào道
hěn很
yōu优
 。

The food at this restaurant tastes excellent.

Wǒ我
men们
xué学
xiào校
yǒu有
hěn很
duō多
yōu优
děng等
xué学
shēng生
 。

Our school has many top-performing students.

Show 3 more examples
Zhè这
ge个
xīn新
chǎn产
pǐn品
de的
zhì质
liàng量
fēi非
cháng常
yōu优
 。

The quality of this new product is extremely good.

Tā他
de的
chéng成
jì绩
zài在
bān班
jí级
lǐ里
chǔ处
yú于
yōu优
děng等
shuǐ水
píng平
 。

His grades are at an excellent level in the class.

Zhè这
jiā家
jiǔ酒
diàn店
de的
fú服
wù务
tài态
dù度
hěn很
yōu优
 。

The service attitude of this hotel is very good.

2.

adjective

sufficient; abundant; well-off

literary

Used in formal or literary written contexts.

Tā他
de的
shōu收
rù入
yōu优
wò渥
 ,
shēng生
huó活
wú无
yōu忧
 。

His income is ample, and he lives a carefree life.

Zhè这
jiā家
gōng工
chǎng厂
de的
zī资
jīn金
chǔ储
bèi备
yōu优
yù裕
 。

This factory has abundant capital reserves.

Show 3 more examples
Tā他
jiā家
de的
jiā家
jìng境
shí十
fēn分
yōu优
wò渥
 。

His family is very well-off.

Zhè这
ge个
dì地
qū区
de的
liáng粮
shi食
gōng供
yìng应
yōu优
yù裕
 。

The grain supply in this region is sufficient.

Tā他
de的
shēng生
huó活
tiáo条
jiàn件
yōu优
yù裕
shū舒
shì适
 。

His living conditions are abundant and comfortable.

3.

verb

to give preferential treatment; to favor

formal

Commonly used in formal official or social contexts to show special care for a group.

Wǒ我
men们
yīng应
gāi该
yōng拥
jūn军
yōu优
shǔ属
 ,
zūn尊
zhòng重
tuì退
wǔ伍
jūn军
rén人
 。

We should give preferential treatment to military families and respect veterans.

Zhè这
jiā家
shāng商
chǎng场
duì对
lǎo老
nián年
rén人
shí实
xíng行
yōu优
gòu购
zhèng政
cè策
 。

This mall offers preferential shopping policies for elderly people.

Show 3 more examples
Xué学
xiào校
duì对
pín贫
kùn困
xué学
shēng生
yōu优
xué学
yōu优
dài待
 。

The school gives preferential treatment to poor students in their studies.

Zhè这
jiā家
gōng公
sī司
yōu优
yù遇
wài外
jí籍
yuán员
gōng工
 。

This company gives preferential treatment to foreign employees.

Zhèng政
fǔ府
yōu优
xù恤
shòu受
zāi灾
qún群
zhòng众
 。

The government gives preferential care to disaster-affected people.

4.

noun

surname You

A common Chinese surname.

Yōu优
xiān先
sheng生
shì是
wǒ我
men们
de的
yǔ语
wén文
lǎo老
shī师
 。

Mr. You is our Chinese teacher.

Wǒ我
rèn认
shi识
yī一
wèi位
xìng姓
Yōu优
de的
péng朋
yǒu友
 。

I know a friend whose surname is You.

5.

noun

traditional actor; performer

archaic

This term is mostly used in historical or classical contexts now, referring to professional stage performers in old China.

Qīng清
mò末
mín民
chū初
de的
míng名
yōu优
shòu受
dào到
hěn很
duō多
guān观
zhòng众
de的
xǐ喜
ài爱
 。

Famous actors in the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China were loved by many audiences.

Yōu优
líng伶
zài在
gǔ古
dài代
shè社
huì会
dì地
wèi位
jiào较
dī低
 。

Actors had a relatively low social status in ancient China.

Show 3 more examples
Zhè这
wèi位
míng名
yōu优
de的
biǎo表
yǎn演
jì技
yì艺
jīng精
zhàn湛
 。

This famous performer has superb acting skills.

Gǔ古
dài代
de的
Yōu优
líng伶
cháng常
cháng常
zài在
gōng宫
tíng廷
zhōng中
biǎo表
yǎn演
 。

Ancient actors often performed in the imperial court.

Tā他
de的
zǔ祖
fù父
shì是
míng民
guó国
shí时
qī期
de的
zhī知
míng名
yōu优
líng伶
 。

His grandfather was a well-known actor during the Republic of China era.