佑 (yòu) · to bless, to protect (by divine power)

Meanings

1 to bless
2 to protect (by divine power)

Characters

佑

yòu

bless; protect

Examples

HSK 5

愿上天保佑你一路平安。

Yuàn shàngtiān bǎoyòu nǐ yílù-píng'ān.

May heaven bless you with a safe journey.

Tips

usage

佑 is a bound form, almost always appearing in 保佑 (to bless; to protect). It is also a popular character in Chinese given names, conveying a wish for divine protection.

Components

radical

亻 rén

person

Person radical on the left, the indexing component and a contracted form of 人. It marks 佑 as a person-centred action - protecting or helping someone - and pairs it visually with its sister char 祐 (with 礻, divine help) which often carries the same blessing sense in religious contexts.

phonetic

右 yòu

right side; to assist

Right side 右 supplies the sound exactly - same syllable, same tone. It also lends meaning: 右 originally pictured a hand at someone's right side helping them (the hand under 口 is the same hand). Person + helping-hand = 佑 to bless and protect, a clean compound.