幼 yòu infant
infant; young child; immature
怎么记住“幼”: 幺 short thread + 力 power = infant. The baby needs all his power to tug a short thread from his blanket, still just an infant.
部件结构
会意 · Meaning + meaning
Two or more parts whose meanings together make the new meaning.
幼 = 幺 short thread + 力 power
- 幺 short thread meaning
- 力 power meaning
The baby needs all his power to tug a short thread from his blanket, still just an infant.
How it came to be
The oracle bone form joins a small thread, for tiny, and the sign for strength.
用法
- 幼 is bound and literary-flavored, meaning young/immature; in daily speech you'd say 小 for "young", but 幼 shows up in set compounds.
- 幼儿园 (yòu'éryuán) "kindergarten" is by far its most common word: every parent uses it.
- 幼稚 (yòuzhì) literally "young and immature" is usually a criticism when applied to an adult's behavior or ideas: 你的想法太幼稚了 (nǐ de xiǎngfǎ tài yòuzhì le) your idea is too naive/childish. It's not neutral like "young".