迂 (yū) - circuitous & winding

迂Tone 1

yū ｜ 6 strokes ｜ radical: 辶

咏与

迂 · yū

circuitous;

winding;

roundabout;

pedantic;

impractical;

out-of-date

circuitouswindingroundabout

Usage highlights

circuitous routepedantic thinkingimpractical theoryroundabout tacticsoutdated scholarwind around

Synonyms

  • 绕— to go around; circuitous
  • 曲— crooked; winding
  • 迁— pedantic; rigid

Antonyms

  • 直— straight; direct
  • 达— thorough; penetrating
  • 通— unobstructed; logical

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He took a circuitous route (迂回路线).
  • Her thinking is rather pedantic (迂腐的 thinking).
  • We need to avoid roundabout methods (迂回的方法).
  • His ideas are outdated and impractical (迂阔的 ideas).

Collocations

  • circuitous route(迂回)
  • pedantic thinking(迂腐)
  • impractical theory(迂论)
  • roundabout tactics(迂回战术)
  • outdated scholar(迂儒)
  • wind around(迂曲)

Idioms

  • Stubbornly clinging to outworn rules(迂腐不化)
  • Taking a circuitous route(迂回曲折)
  • Pedantic and impractical(迂阔之论)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally described winding, circuitous paths; later extended to describe roundabout thinking or methods.
  • In Confucian context, sometimes used critically to describe scholars who are too rigid or impractical in their thinking.
  • The character combines the movement radical (辶) with 于 (yu), suggesting movement that is indirect or roundabout.

FAQ