喻 (yù) · to describe something as; an analogy

Meanings

1 to describe something as; an analogy
2 a simile; a metaphor; an allegory
3 surname Yu

Characters

喻

yù

analogy; metaphor

Examples

HSK 6

这个比喻非常恰当。

Zhège bǐyù fēicháng qiàdàng.

This metaphor is very apt.

HSK 7-9

他用寓言来暗喻社会问题。

Tā yòng yùyán lái ànyù shèhuì wèntí.

He used fables to allude to social issues.

Tips

usage

Rarely used alone. Most common in compounds: 比喻 (bǐyù, metaphor), 暗喻 (ànyù, implicit metaphor), 隐喻 (yǐnyù, metaphor), 家喻户晓 (jiāyù-hùxiǎo, known to every household).

Components

radical

口 kǒu

mouth

Left mouth radical - a small square depicting an open mouth, the indexing radical for verbs of speaking. In 喻 it grounds the meaning in spoken language: explaining through words, drawing an analogy, comparing one thing to another. Same family: 说 speak, 问 ask, 唱 sing.

phonetic

俞 yú

agree; surname (phonetic)

Right 俞 supplies the sound - yú drifting to yù with a tone change. 俞 originally pictured a hollowed-log boat (a vessel of agreement carrying people together) and means "to assent." Same phonetic kernel runs through 愉 happy, 输 to transport, 渝 to change - all yú/yù readings.