# 優

| 優 | U+512A, &#20778; CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-512A |
| ← 儩 [U+5129] | CJK Unified Ideographs | 儫 → [U+512B] |
| ㊝ | U+329D, &#12957; CIRCLED IDEOGRAPH EXCELLENT |
| ← ㊜ [U+329C] | Enclosed CJK Letters and Months | ㊞ → [U+329E] |

## Translingual
### Han character

優 (Kangxi radical 9, 人+15, 17 strokes, cangjie input 人一月水 (OMBE), four-corner 2124$_7$, composition ⿰亻憂)

#### References

* Kangxi Dictionary: page 120, character 28
* Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 1261
* Dae Jaweon: page 254, character 26
* Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 1, page 233, character 4
* Unihan data for U+512A

## Chinese
### Glyph origin

* Historical forms of the character 優
* Small seal scripts05803Transcribed ancient scriptsL33551L33552L33553L11732L11733
* References:
* Mostly from Richard Sears' Chinese Etymology site (authorisation), which in turn draws data from various collections of ancient forms of Chinese characters, including:
* Shuowen Jiezi (small seal),
* Jinwen Bian (bronze inscriptions),
* Liushutong (Liushutong characters) and
* Yinxu Jiaguwen Bian (oracle bone script).
| | Old Chinese |
| 憂 | *qu |
| 優 | *qu |
| 瀀 | *qu |
| 櫌 | *qu |
| 鄾 | *qu |
| 嚘 | *qu |
| 耰 | *qu |
| 獶 | *qu |
| 纋 | *qu |
| 懮 | *quʔ |
Phono-semantic compound (形聲 / 形声, OC *qu): semantic 亻 + phonetic 憂 (OC *qu).

### Pronunciation

* Mandarin
    (Pinyin): yōu (you$^1$)
    (Zhuyin): ㄧㄡ
* Cantonese
    (Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): jau$^1$
    (Taishan, Wiktionary): yiu$^1$
* Hakka
    (Sixian, PFS): yîu
    (Hailu, HRS): rhiu$^ˋ$
    (Meixian, Guangdong): yiu$^1$
* Eastern Min (BUC): iŭ
* Puxian Min (Pouseng Ping'ing): iu$^1$
* Southern Min
    (Hokkien, POJ): iu
    (Teochew, Peng'im): iu$^1$
* Wu (Northern, Wugniu): $^1$ieu
* Mandarin
** (Standard Chinese)
*** Hanyu Pinyin: yōu
*** Zhuyin: ㄧㄡ
*** Tongyong Pinyin: you
*** Wade–Giles: yu$^1$
*** Yale: yōu
*** Gwoyeu Romatzyh: iou
*** Palladius: ю (ju)
*** Sinological IPA : /joʊ̯⁵⁵/
* Cantonese
** (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
*** Jyutping: jau$^1$
*** Yale: yāu
*** Cantonese Pinyin: jau$^1$
*** Guangdong Romanization: yeo$^1$
*** Sinological IPA : /jɐu̯⁵⁵/
** (Taishanese, Taicheng)
*** Wiktionary: yiu$^1$
*** Sinological IPA : /jiu³³/
* Hakka
** (Northern Sixian, incl. Miaoli)
*** Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: yîu
*** Hakka Romanization System: iu$^ˊ$
*** Hagfa Pinyim: yiu$^1$
*** Sinological IPA: /i̯iu̯²⁴/
** (Southern Sixian, incl. Neipu)
*** Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: yîu
*** Hakka Romanization System: (r)iu$^ˊ$
*** Hagfa Pinyim: yiu$^1$
*** Sinological IPA: /(j)i̯iu̯²⁴/
** (Hailu, incl. Zhudong)
*** Hakka Romanization System: rhiu$^ˋ$
*** Sinological IPA: /ʒiu⁵³/
** (Meixian)
*** Guangdong: yiu$^1$
*** Sinological IPA: /iu⁴⁴/
* Eastern Min
** (Fuzhou)
*** Bàng-uâ-cê: iŭ
*** Sinological IPA : /ieu⁵⁵/
* Puxian Min
** (Putian, Xianyou)
*** Pouseng Ping'ing: iu$^1$
*** Sinological IPA : /iu⁵³³/
* Southern Min
** (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, Jinjiang, General Taiwanese)
*** Pe̍h-ōe-jī: iu
*** Tâi-lô: iu
*** Phofsit Daibuun: iw
*** IPA (Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Taipei, Kaohsiung): /iu⁴⁴/
*** IPA (Quanzhou, Jinjiang): /iu³³/
** (Teochew)
*** Peng'im: iu$^1$
*** Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: iu
*** Sinological IPA : /iu³³/
* Wu
** (Northern: Shanghai, Suzhou)
*** Wugniu: $^1$ieu
*** MiniDict: ieu$^平$
*** Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai): $^1$ieu
*** Sinological IPA (Shanghai): /iɤ⁵³/
*** Sinological IPA (Suzhou): /ʏ⁴⁴/
* Middle Chinese: 'juw
Rime :
| Character | 優 |
| Reading # | 1/1 |
| Initial (聲) | 影 (34) |
| Final (韻) | 尤 (136) |
| Tone (調) | Level (Ø) |
| Openness (開合) | Open |
| Division (等) | III |
| Fanqie | 於求切 |
| Baxter | 'juw |
| Reconstructions ||
| Zhengzhang Shangfang | /ʔɨu/ |
| Pan Wuyun | /ʔiu/ |
| Shao Rongfen | /ʔiəu/ |
| Edwin Pulleyblank | /ʔuw/ |
| Li Rong | /ʔiu/ |
| Wang Li | /ĭəu/ |
| Bernhard Karlgren | /ʔi̯ə̯u/ |
| Expected Mandarin Reflex | yōu |
| Expected Cantonese Reflex | jau$^1$ |
* Old Chinese
    (Baxter–Sagart): /*ʔ(r)u/
    (Zhengzhang): /*qu/
Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014) :
| Character | 優 |
| Reading # | 1/1 |
| Modern Beijing (Pinyin) | yōu |
| Middle Chinese | ‹ ʔjuw › |
| Old Chinese | /*ʔ(r)u/ |
| English | entertainer; liberal |
| Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary. ||
Zhengzhang system (2003) :
| Character | 優 |
| Reading # | 1/1 |
| No. | 15494 |
| Phonetic component | 憂 |
| Rime group | 幽 |
| Rime subdivision | 1 |
| Corresponding MC rime | 憂 |
| Old Chinese | /*qu/ |

### Definitions

優
* generous; abundant; ample
* excellent; superior
* (literary, or in compounds) to give preferential treatment
* (dated) actor; entertainer
* (Can we verify this sense?) (Cantonese) to pull up (pants or socks)
* a surname, You

#### Synonyms

* (generous):
* 優厚 / 优厚 (yōuhòu)
* 充牣 (chōngrèn) (literary)
* 充盈 (chōngyíng)
* 博大 (bódà)
* 宏富 (hóngfù) (literary)
* 富足 (fùzú)
* 寬裕 / 宽裕 (kuānyù)
* 從容 / 从容
* 滿盈 / 满盈 (mǎnyíng) (literary)
* 盎然 (àngrán)
* 豐厚 / 丰厚 (fēnghòu)
* 豐富 / 丰富 (fēngfù)
* 豐滿 / 丰满 (fēngmǎn)
* 豐盛 / 丰盛 (fēngshèng)
* 豐碩 / 丰硕 (fēngshuò)
* 豐足 / 丰足 (fēngzú)
* 饒 / 饶 (ráo)
* (to give preferential treatment):
* 優待 / 优待 (yōudài)
* 優遇 / 优遇 (yōuyù)
* 厚待 (hòudài)
* 照顧 / 照顾 (zhàogù)
* 知遇 (zhīyù) (literary)

#### Antonyms

* (antonym(s) of “excellent”): 劣 (liè)

#### Compounds

* 伊優 / 伊优
* 伶優 / 伶优
* 倡優 / 倡优 (chāngyōu)
* 俳優 / 俳优 (páiyōu)
* 俳優體 / 俳优体
* 優伶 / 优伶 (yōulíng)
* 優假 / 优假
* 優優 / 优优
* 優先 / 优先 (yōuxiān)
* 優先權 / 优先权 (yōuxiānquán)
* 優劣 / 优劣 (yōuliè)
* 優勝 / 优胜 (yōushèng)
* 優勝劣敗 / 优胜劣败
* 優勢 / 优势 (yōushì)
* 優勢種 / 优势种 (yōushìzhǒng)
* 優厚 / 优厚 (yōuhòu)
* 優哉游哉 / 优哉游哉 (yōuzāiyóuzāi)
* 優地槽 / 优地槽
* 優境學 / 优境学
* 優婆塞 / 优婆塞 (yōupósè)
* 優婆夷 / 优婆夷 (yōupóyí)
* 優孟衣冠 / 优孟衣冠
* 優容 / 优容
* 優弧 / 优弧
* 優待 / 优待 (yōudài)
* 優待券 / 优待券
* 優待月票 / 优待月票
* 優恤 / 优恤
* 優惠 / 优惠 (yōuhuì)
* 優惠待遇 / 优惠待遇
* 優惠關稅 / 优惠关税
* 優撫 / 优抚 (yōufǔ)
* 優曇華 / 优昙华
* 優柔 / 优柔
* 優柔寡斷 / 优柔寡断 (yōuróuguǎduàn)
* 優格 / 优格 (yōugé)
* 優樂 / 优乐
* 優比 / 优比
* 優洽 / 优洽
* 優游 / 优游 (yōuyóu)
* 優渥 / 优渥 (yōuwò)
* 優游不迫 / 优游不迫
* 優游自在 / 优游自在
* 優獎 / 优奖
* 優生保健 / 优生保健
* 優生學 / 优生学 (yōushēngxué)
* 優異 / 优异 (yōuyì)
* 優禮 / 优礼 (yōulǐ)
* 優秀 / 优秀 (yōuxiù)
* 優笑 / 优笑
* 優等 / 优等 (yōuděng)
* 優缽羅 / 优钵罗
* 優美 / 优美 (yōuměi)
* 優良 / 优良 (yōuliáng)
* 優處 / 优处
* 優裕 / 优裕 (yōuyù)
* 優角 / 优角
* 優詔 / 优诏
* 優貢 / 优贡
* 優質 / 优质 (yōuzhì)
* 優越 / 优越 (yōuyuè)
* 優越感 / 优越感 (yōuyuègǎn)
* 優遊 / 优游 (yōuyóu)
* 優遇 / 优遇 (yōuyù)
* 優選法 / 优选法
* 優酪乳 / 优酪乳 (yōulàorǔ)
* 優長 / 优长
* 優閒 / 优闲 (yōuxián)
* 優雅 / 优雅 (yōuyǎ)
* 優養化 / 优养化
* 優點 / 优点 (yōudiǎn)
* 名優 / 名优 (míngyōu)
* 名特優新 / 名特优新
* 品學兼優 / 品学兼优 (pǐnxuéjiānyōu)
* 女優 / 女优 (nǚyōu)
* 娼優 / 娼优
* 學優才贍 / 学优才赡
* 學優而仕 / 学优而仕 (xuéyōu'érshì)
* 弄優 / 弄优
* 從優 / 从优 (cóngyōu)
* 才勇兼優 / 才勇兼优
* 才學兼優 / 才学兼优
* 擇優 / 择优 (zéyōu)
* 特優 / 特优
* 男優 / 男优 (nányōu)
* 空優迷彩 / 空优迷彩
* 績優 / 绩优
* 績優股 / 绩优股 (jìyōugǔ)
* 膽識俱優 / 胆识俱优
* 衣冠優孟 / 衣冠优孟
* 資優 / 资优 (zīyōu)
* 資優生 / 资优生
* 雜種優勢 / 杂种优势
* 養尊處優 / 养尊处优 (yǎngzūnchǔyōu)
* 高貴優雅 / 高贵优雅

### References

* “優”, in 漢語多功能字庫 (Multi-function Chinese Character Database)‎, 香港中文大學 (the Chinese University of Hong Kong), 2014–
* 莆田市荔城区档案馆 [Putian City Licheng District Archives], editor (2022), “优”, in 莆仙方言文读字汇 [Puxian Dialect Literary Reading Dictionary] (overall work in Mandarin and Puxian Min), page 288.

## Japanese
### Kanji

(Sixth grade kyōiku kanji)
* a person with lithe movements
* kind (adj.), favor
* good, excellent, surpass, superior
** the best possible grade on school results
* rich, wealthy
* a sufficient amount for a certain thing
* tenderness, gentleness
* actor

#### Readings

* Go-on: う (u)
* Kan-on: ゆう (yū, Jōyō)
* Kun: すぐれる (sugureru, 優れる, Jōyō)、まさる (masaru, 優る)、やさしい (yasashii, 優しい, Jōyō)
* Nanori: かつ (katsu)、ひろ (hiro)、ゆたか (yutaka)、ゆ (yu)、よし (yoshi)

#### Compounds

* 優(ゆう)渥(あく) (yūaku)
* 優(ゆう)位(い) (yūi)
* 優(ゆう)越(えつ) (yūetsu)
* 優(ゆう)越(えつ)感(かん) (yūetsukan)
* 優(ゆう)艶(えん) (yūen)
* 優(ゆう)婉(えん) (yūen)
* 優(ゆう)雅(が) (yūga)
* 優(ゆう)遇(ぐう) (yūgū)
* 優(やさ)形(がた) (yasagata)
* 優(ゆう)弧(こ) (yūko)
* 優(ゆう)姿(し) (yūshi)
* 優(ゆう)者(しゃ) (yūsha)
* 優(ゆう)秀(しゅう) (yūshū)
* 優(ゆう)柔(じゅう)不(ふ)断(だん) (yūjūfudan)
* 優(ゆう)駿(しゅん) (yūshun)
* 優(ゆう)女(おんな) (yūonna)
* 優(ゆう)勝(しょう) (yūshō)
* 優(ゆう)勢(せい) (yūsei)
* 優(ゆう)性(せい) (yūsei)
* 優(ゆう)生(せい) (yūsei)
* 優(ゆう)先(せん) (yūsen)
* 優(ゆう)待(たい) (yūtai)
* 優(ゆう)退(たい) (yūtai)
* 優(やさ)男(おとこ) (yasaotoko)
* 優(ゆう)長(ちょう) (yūchō)
* 優(ゆう)等(とう) (yūtō)
* 優(う)曇(どん)華(げ) (udonge)
* 優(ゆう)美(び) (yūbi)
* 優(ゆう)々(ゆう)閑(かん)々(かん) (yūyūkankan), 優(ゆう)優(ゆう)閑(かん)閑(かん) (yūyūkankan)
* 優(ゆう)良(りょう) (yūryō)
* 優(ゆう)劣(れつ) (yūretsu)
* 優(ゆう)諚(じょう) (yūjō)

### Etymology 1

* Kanji in this term
* 優
* ゆう Grade: 6
* on'yomi

#### Adverb

優(ゆう) • (yū)
* enough, amply
* easily, skillfully

#### Noun

優(ゆう) • (yū)
* A (letter grade); excellence
    Coordinate terms: 良, 可, 不可
* gentleness

#### Proper noun

優(ゆう) • (Yū)
* a female given name

### Etymology 2

* Kanji in this term
* 優
* まさ(る) Grade: 6
* kun'yomi

#### Proper noun

優(まさる) • (Masaru)
* a male given name

### Related terms

* 優(まさ)しげ (masashige)
* 優(まさ)る (masaru)

## Korean
### Etymology

From Middle Chinese 優 (MC 'juw).
* Recorded as Middle Korean ᅙᅮᇢ (Yale: qwuw) in Dongguk Jeongun (東國正韻 / 동국정운), 1448.
* Recorded as Middle Korean 우 (wu) (Yale: wu) in Hunmong Jahoe (訓蒙字會 / 훈몽자회), 1527.

### Pronunciation

* (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA: [u]
* Phonetic hangul: [우]

### Hanja

Wikisource 優 (eumhun 넉넉할 우 (neongneokhal u))
* hanja form of 우 (“excellent; superior”)
* hanja form of 우 (“actor”)

#### Compounds

* 배우 (俳優, bae'u)
* 성우 (聲優, seong'u)
* 우대 (優待, udae)
* 우등 (優等, udeung)
* 우량 (優良, uryang)
* 우생학 (優生學, usaenghak)
* 우선 (優先, useon)
* 우성 (優性, useong)
* 우세 (優勢, use)
* 우수 (優秀, usu)
* 우승 (優勝, useung)
* 우아 (優雅, ua)
* 우열 (優劣, uyeol)
* 우월 (優越, uwol)
* 우위 (優位, uwi)

### References

* 국제퇴계학회 대구경북지부 (國際退溪學會 大邱慶北支部) (2007). Digital Hanja Dictionary, 전자사전／電子字典.

## Vietnamese
### Han character

優: Hán Nôm readings: ưu
* This term needs a translation to English. Please help out and add a translation, then remove the text {{rfdef}}.

#### Compounds

* ưu đãi (優待)
* ưu liệt (優劣)
* ưu thế (優勢)
* ưu tiên (優先)
* ưu tú (優秀)
* ưu việt (優越)