幽 (yōu) - Deep, secluded, tranquil & mysterious, profound

幽Tone 1

yōu ｜ 9 strokes ｜ radical:

咏与

幽 · yōu

Deep, secluded, tranquil;

mysterious, profound;

quiet, serene;

to confine, imprison;

refers to the underworld or spirit world.

Deep, secluded, tranquilmysterious, profoundquiet, serene

Usage highlights

Secluded and quietElegant and refinedProfound thoughtSecret rendezvousDeep valleyNetherworld, Hades

Synonyms

  • 静— quiet, still
  • 深— deep, profound
  • 隐— hidden, concealed

Antonyms

  • 喧— noisy, clamorous
  • 明— bright, clear
  • 显— obvious, apparent

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The mountain path is quiet and secluded (幽静的山路).
  • They enjoyed a romantic date (幽会).
  • This garden has an elegant charm (幽雅的园林).
  • Ancient philosophers contemplated profound mysteries (幽思).

Collocations

  • Secluded and quiet(幽静)
  • Elegant and refined(幽雅)
  • Profound thought(幽思)
  • Secret rendezvous(幽会)
  • Deep valley(幽谷)
  • Netherworld, Hades(幽冥)

Idioms

  • Winding paths lead to secluded spots(曲径通幽)
  • Profound and difficult to understand(幽深难测)
  • Quiet and tasteful(清幽雅致)
  • Living in seclusion(幽居独处)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Daoist philosophy, '幽' represents the quiet, mysterious, and profound aspects of nature and existence.
  • In traditional Chinese aesthetics, '幽' is valued in garden design and poetry for creating tranquil, contemplative spaces.
  • Historically used to describe the underworld or spirit realm in religious and folk contexts.

FAQ