Learn Chinese Characters

Meaning

feather

Chinese: 羽毛。

Hear the Four Tones

The same syllable “yu” becomes a different word in each tone. 羽 is the 3rd tone. Tap any tone to hear a native voice and see its pitch shape.

Stroke Order

Tap Animate to watch the strokes in order, or Practice to trace it yourself.

Common Words

  • 羽毛球yǔ máo qiúbadminton; shuttlecock
  • 羽绒服yǔ róng fúdown-filled garment
  • 羽化yǔ huàlevitation (of Daoist immortal); to become as light as a feather and ascend to heaven; (in Daoism) to become immortal; to die
  • 羽林yǔ línarmed escort
  • 羽流yǔ liúplume

Example Sentence

小鸟身上长满了柔软的羽毛。Xiǎo niǎo shēn shàng zhǎng mǎn le róu ruǎn de yǔ máo.The little bird is covered with soft feathers.

小鸟Xiǎo niǎosmall bird身上shēn shàngon the body长满zhǎng mǎnto grow all overle(completed action)柔软róu ruǎnsoftdeof羽毛yǔ máofeather

Go deeper

Where this character comes from

A pictograph of two feathers or wings side by side, with the shaft and barbs. It means ‘feather’ and tops 翅, 翔, 翻.

A way to remember it

Two feathers side by side, each with its quill.

Easy to confuse with

  • ‘To practise’: in effect one half of 羽 — a single wing.