(yòu) - To urge someone to eat or drink & to assist

Tone 4

yòu | 8 strokes | radical: 亻

· yòu

To urge someone to eat or drink;

to assist;

to reward;

to forgive.

To urge someone to eat or drinkto assistto reward

Usage highlights

To urge to eat/drinkTo urge to drinkTo assist in sacrificeTo reward with foodTo forgiveTo persuade to eat

Synonyms

  • to urge, persuade
  • to assist, help
  • to forgive, pardon

Antonyms

  • to forbid, prohibit
  • to punish, penalize

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The host urged the guest to eat more (侑食).
  • In ancient banquets, musicians would perform to encourage drinking (侑酒).
  • He assisted in the ritual ceremony (侑祀).

Collocations

  • To urge to eat/drink(侑食)
  • To urge to drink(侑酒)
  • To assist in sacrifice(侑祀)
  • To reward with food(侑酬)
  • To forgive(侑宥)
  • To persuade to eat(劝侑)

Idioms

  • To urge with food and music(以乐侑食)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originated from ancient Chinese dining etiquette where hosts would encourage guests to eat and drink.
  • Used in ritual contexts, especially in sacrificial ceremonies where it means to assist or accompany.
  • In historical contexts, it can mean to pardon or forgive, related to the concept of leniency.

FAQ