ZHIZHI 知止 · LEARN CHINESE DAILY
由
from; by; reason
yóu
5 strokes · 田 (field) with a sprout pushing up through — origin showing itself · HSK 3
Where 由 comes from
A sprout rising out of a field: where something comes from. Origin gave 'from/by way of', and the cause things spring from gave 理由 reason.
由 in Chinese culture
自由 freedom ('following from oneself') is the heavyweight here — the word on banners and in anthems. 由于 because of, 理由 reason. Passive by-phrases use it too: 由他决定 'decided by him'.
Example
自由 zìyóu — freedom
这件事由你决定。
Zhè jiàn shì yóu nǐ juédìng.
This matter is decided by you.
How to remember it
A sprout growing FROM the field — the ORIGIN, the REASON.
自由 'freedom' = 'from oneself' — the Chinese word for liberty is literally self-origin.
Same sound, different tones
Words unlocked by 由
自由 zìyóu
freedom
理由 lǐyóu
reason
Related characters
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