由
由 (yóu) means “by”. It is a single picture-like unit with 5 strokes, and is an HSK 4 word in the current exam syllabus (2025).
Break 由 into its parts
What 由 is made of
由 is not built from smaller parts; it is written with 5 strokes.
Origin hint: Road 丨 leading to the farm 田 (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
由 stroke order
Example sentences
这件事由我负责。Zhè jiàn shì yóu wǒ fùzé.I'm in charge of this matter.
晚饭由妈妈来做。Wǎnfàn yóu māma lái zuò.Mom will make dinner.
Words with 由
Quick facts
| Pinyin | yóu |
|---|---|
| Meaning | by; from; because of |
| Strokes | 5 |
| Radical | 田 (field, #102) |
| Pattern | Single unit |
| HSK | HSK 4 (exam 2025) · HSK 3 (2021) · Old HSK 4 |
Questions about 由
What does 由 mean?
由 (yóu) means “by; from; because of”.
How many strokes does 由 have?
由 has 5 strokes.
What is the radical of 由?
The radical of 由 is 田 (tián, “field”), Kangxi radical number 102.
Which HSK level is 由?
由 is in HSK 4 (exam 2025) and HSK 3 (2021) and Old HSK 4.
Learn 由 with its group
It is part of HSK 3 (2021) · Group 70: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.