友

友	U+53CB, 友 CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-53CB

← 及
[U+53CA]

CJK Unified Ideographs

双 →
[U+53CC]

See also: 犮 and 发

Translingual

Stroke order

Stroke order

Han character

友 (Kangxi radical 29, 又+2, 4 strokes, cangjie input 大水 (KE), four-corner 4004₇, composition ⿸𠂇又)

Derived characters

㑓伖𡛀抜鿆𥁊叐𡵢苃爰爱髪

References

KangXi: page 165, character 6
Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 3119
Dae Jaweon: page 374, character 18
Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 1, page 391, character 1
Unihan data for U+53CB

Chinese

simp. and trad.		友
alternative forms		㕛𦫹𦐮

Glyph origin

Historical forms of the character 友
Shang	Western Zhou	Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han)	Liushutong (compiled in Ming)
Oracle bone script	Bronze inscriptions	Small seal script	Transcribed ancient scripts

Characters in the same phonetic series (又) (Zhengzhang, 2003)

	Old Chinese
絠	*kɯːʔ
醢	*qʰɯːʔ
珛	*qʰʷɯs
栯	ɢʷɯʔ, qʷɯ
有	*ɢʷɯʔ
友	*ɢʷɯʔ
右	ɢʷɯʔ, ɢʷɯs
宥	*ɢʷɯs
囿	ɢʷɯs, ɡʷɯ
侑	*ɢʷɯs
酭	*ɢʷɯs
姷	*ɢʷɯs
又	*ɢʷɯs
佑	*ɢʷɯs
祐	*ɢʷɯs
賄	*qʰʷɯːʔ
蛕	qʰʷɯːʔ, ɡʷɯː
烠	*ɡʷɯː
倄	ɢraːw, ɢʷɯːʔ
鮪	*ɢʷɯʔ
洧	*ɢʷɯʔ
痏	*ɢʷɯʔ
郁	*qʷɯ
戫	*qʷɯ
哊	*ɡʷɯ

Ideogrammic compound (會意) : 又 (“hand”) + 又 (“hand”) – two right hands meeting in friendship. Also phono-semantic (形聲) , from 又 (OC *ɢʷɯs).

Etymology

Endoactive derivation of 右 (OC *ɢʷɯʔ, “right”) (Schuessler, 2007). Cognate with Tibetan གྲོགས (grogs, “friend; companion”) (STEDT).

Pronunciation

Mandarin
(Pinyin): yǒu (you³)
(Zhuyin): ㄧㄡˇ
Cantonese
(Guangzhou, Jyutping): jau⁵, jau^5-2
(Taishan, Wiktionary): yiu⁴
Hakka
(Sixian, PFS): yû
(Meixian, Guangdong): yiu¹
Jin (Wiktionary): iou²
Min Bei (KCR): iǔ
Min Dong (BUC): iū
Min Nan
(Hokkien, POJ): iú
(Teochew, Peng'im): iu²
Wu (Wiktionary): hhieu (T3)

Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Hanyu Pinyin: yǒu
  - Zhuyin: ㄧㄡˇ
  - Tongyong Pinyin: yǒu
  - Wade–Giles: yu³
  - Yale: yǒu
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: yeou
  - Palladius: ю (ju)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /joʊ̯²¹⁴/
Cantonese
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou)⁺
  - Jyutping: jau⁵, jau^5-2
  - Yale: yáuh, yáu
  - Cantonese Pinyin: jau⁵, jau^5-2
  - Guangdong Romanization: yeo⁵, yeo^5-2
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /jɐu̯¹³/, /jɐu̯¹³⁻³⁵/

Note:

jau5-2 - “guy; bloke”.

- (Taishanese, Taicheng)
  - Wiktionary: yiu⁴
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /jiu²¹/
Hakka
- (Northern Sixian, incl. Miaoli)
  - Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: yû
  - Hakka Romanization System: iu´
  - Hagfa Pinyim: yiu¹
  - Sinological IPA: /i̯u²⁴/
- (Southern Sixian, incl. Meinong)
  - Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: yû
  - Hakka Romanization System: (r)iu´
  - Hagfa Pinyim: yiu¹
  - Sinological IPA: /(j)i̯u²⁴/
- (Meixian)
  - Guangdong: yiu¹
  - Sinological IPA: /iu⁴⁴/
Jin
- (Taiyuan)⁺
  - Wiktionary: iou²
  - Sinological IPA (old-style): /iəu⁵³/
Min Bei
- (Jian'ou)
  - Kienning Colloquial Romanized: iǔ
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /iu²¹/
Min Dong
- (Fuzhou)
  - Bàng-uâ-cê: iū
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /ieu³³/
Min Nan
- (Hokkien)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: iú
  - Tâi-lô: iú
  - Phofsit Daibuun: iuo
  - IPA (Xiamen): /iu⁵³/
  - IPA (Quanzhou): /iu⁵⁵⁴/
  - IPA (Zhangzhou): /iu⁵³/
  - IPA (Taipei): /iu⁵³/
  - IPA (Kaohsiung): /iu⁴¹/
- (Teochew)
  - Peng'im: iu²
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: iú
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /iu⁵²/
Wu
- (Shanghainese)
  - Wiktionary: hhieu (T3)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /ɦiɜ²³/

Middle Chinese: /ɦɨu^X/

Rime
Character	友
Reading #	1/1
Initial (聲)	云 (35)
Final (韻)	尤 (136)
Tone (調)	Rising (X)
Openness (開合)	Open
Division (等)	III
Fanqie	云久切
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/ɦɨu^X/
Pan Wuyun	/ɦiu^X/
Shao Rongfen	/ɣiəu^X/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/ɦuw^X/
Li Rong	/ɣiu^X/
Wang Li	/ɣĭəu^X/
Bernard Karlgren	/i̯ə̯u^X/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	yǒu
Expected Cantonese Reflex	jau⁵

Old Chinese
(Baxter–Sagart): /*[ɢ]ʷəʔ/
(Zhengzhang): /*ɢʷɯʔ/

Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character	友
Reading #	1/1
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)	yǒu
Middle Chinese	‹ hjuw^X ›
Old Chinese	/*[ɢ]ʷəʔ/
English	friend
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	友
Reading #	1/1
No.	15596
Phonetic component	又
Rime group	之
Rime subdivision	0
Corresponding MC rime	有
Old Chinese	/*ɢʷɯʔ/

Definitions

友

friend; companion
好友 ― hǎoyǒu ― good friend
- 招招舟子、人涉卬否。人涉卬否、卬須我友。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]
  招招舟子、人涉卬否。人涉卬否、卬须我友。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]
  From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11^th – 7^th centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
  Zhāozhāo zhōuzǐ, rén shè áng fǒu. Rén shè áng fǒu, áng xū wǒyǒu. [Pinyin]
  The boatman beckons and beckons; others cross, not me. Others cross, not me; I'm waiting for my friend.
(literary) to make friends with
- 無友不如己者。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
  无友不如己者。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
  From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
  Wú yǒu bùrú jǐ zhě. [Pinyin]
  Have no friends not equal to yourself.
(literary, chiefly among brothers) to love each other
- 窈窕淑女，琴瑟友之。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad. and simp.]
  From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11^th – 7^th centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
  Yǎotiǎoshūnǚ, qínsè yǒu zhī. [Pinyin]
  The modest, retiring, virtuous, young lady: With lutes, small and large, let us give her friendly welcome.
- 兄亦不念鞠子哀，大不友于弟。 [Classical Chinese, trad. and simp.]
  From: The Book of Documents, circa 4^th – 3^rd century BCE, translated based on Bernhard Karlgren's version
  Xiōng yì bù niàn jūzǐ āi, dà bù yǒu yú dì. [Pinyin]
  The elder brother likewise does not think of his tender younger brother’s pitiableness and is greatly unfriendly towards his younger brother.
(in compounds) friendly
友邦 ― yǒubāng ― friendly nation
友軍／友军 ― yǒujūn ― friendly forces
(Cantonese, colloquial, slightly impolite) guy; bloke (Classifier: 條／条; 班)
西裝友／西装友 [Cantonese] ― sai¹ zong¹ jau^5-2 [Jyutping] ― guy in a suit
a surname

Compounds

Derived terms from 友

三五好友
三友 (sānyǒu)
三朋四友
交友 (jiāoyǒu)
僚友
兄友弟恭 (xiōngyǒudìgōng)
友人 (yǒurén)
友善 (yǒushàn)
友好 (yǒuhǎo)
友婿
友情 (yǒuqíng)
友生
友邦 (yǒubāng)
取友
同窗契友
嘉祐四友
契友
奔走之友
女友 (nǚyǒu)
好友 (hǎoyǒu)
好朋友 (hǎopéngyou)
婚友社
嫖友 (piáoyǒu)
孝友
室友 (shìyǒu)
密友 (mìyǒu)
小友
尚友
山友 (shānyǒu)
工友 (gōngyǒu)
幕友
探友
故友 (gùyǒu)
教友 (jiàoyǒu)
敝友
普天共友
朋友 (péngyou)
校友 (xiàoyǒu)
死友
燮友
牌友
狂朋怪友
狐朋狗友 (húpénggǒuyǒu)
玉友
玉昆金友
男朋友 (nánpéngyou)
畏友 (wèiyǒu)
益友 (yìyǒu)
益者三友

盟友 (méngyǒu)
知友 (zhīyǒu)
石友
票友 (piàoyǒu)
窗友
站友
竟陵八友
素友
老友 (lǎoyǒu)
老朋友 (lǎopéngyou)
股友社
腹心之友
至交契友
至友 (zhìyǒu)
良友 (liángyǒu)
良朋益友
莫逆之友
血友病 (xuèyǒubìng)
道友 (dàoyǒu)
酒友
酒肉朋友 (jiǔròu péngyou)
金友玉昆
友于
昵友
以文會友／以文会友
佞徒損友／佞徒损友
化敵為友／化敌为友 (huàdíwéiyǒu)
友好條約／友好条约
友愛／友爱 (yǒu'ài)
友誼／友谊 (yǒuyì)
友誼商店／友谊商店 (yǒuyì shāngdiàn)
友誼賽／友谊赛
友軍／友军 (yǒujūn)
友風子雨／友风子雨
同門友／同门友
嚶鳴求友／嘤鸣求友
土網友／土网友
執友／执友 (zhíyǒu)
夠朋友／够朋友 (gòu péngyou)
婚友介紹／婚友介绍
學友／学友 (xuéyǒu)
師友／师友 (shīyǒu)
影友會／影友会
徵友／征友
戰友／战友 (zhànyǒu)
損友／损友 (sǔnyǒu)
損者三友／损者三友
摯友／挚友 (zhìyǒu)

擇交而友／择交而友
擇友／择友
會友／会友 (huìyǒu)
朋友有舊／朋友有旧
校友會／校友会 (xiàoyǒuhuì)
歌友會／歌友会
歲寒三友／岁寒三友 (suìhánsānyǒu)
求其友聲／求其友声
求親告友／求亲告友
涼友／凉友
爭友／争友
發燒友／发烧友 (fāshāoyǒu)
硯友／砚友
竹馬之友／竹马之友
筆友／笔友 (bǐyǒu)
結友／结友
網友／网友 (wǎngyǒu)
網路筆友／网路笔友
線上交友／线上交友
聽友／听友 (tīngyǒu)
背主賣友／背主卖友
膩友／腻友
至親好友／至亲好友
舊友／旧友 (jiùyǒu)
良師益友／良师益友 (liángshīyìyǒu)
見色忘友／见色忘友
親友／亲友 (qīnyǒu)
親朋好友／亲朋好友 (qīnpénghǎoyǒu)
訪友／访友
詩朋酒友／诗朋酒友
諍友／诤友 (zhèngyǒu)
讀友／读友
豬朋狗友／猪朋狗友 (zhūpénggǒuyǒu)
賓友／宾友
賣友／卖友
賣友求榮／卖友求荣 (màiyǒuqiúróng)
農友／农友
酈寄賣友／郦寄卖友
重色輕友／重色轻友 (zhòngsèqīngyǒu)
釣友／钓友 (diàoyǒu)
閨中密友／闺中密友 (guīzhōng mìyǒu)
閨友／闺友
隊友／队友 (duìyǒu)
難友／难友 (nànyǒu)
電腦擇友／电脑择友
鳳友／凤友
鳳友鸞交／凤友鸾交
龍鬚友／龙须友

Japanese

Kanji

友

(grade 2 “Kyōiku” kanji)

friend

Readings

Go-on: う (u)
Kan-on: ゆう (yū, Jōyō)^{←いう (iu, historical)}
Kun: とも (tomo, 友, Jōyō)

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
友
とも Grade: 2
kun’yomi

For pronunciation and definitions of 友 – see the following entry.

【とも】	[noun] friend, companion, comrade, pal [noun] member of the same category Alternative spellings 友, 朋

(This term, 友, is an alternative spelling of the above term.)

Proper noun

友(ゆう) • (Yū)

a male given name

Korean

Etymology

From Middle Chinese 友 (MC ɦɨu^X).

Historical readings
Recorded as Middle Korean ᅌᅮᇢ〯 (Yale: ngwǔw) in Dongguk Jeongun (東國正韻 / 동국정운), 1448. Recorded as Middle Korean 우〯 (wǔ) (Yale: wǔ) in Hunmong Jahoe (訓蒙字會 / 훈몽자회), 1527.

Pronunciation

(SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [u(ː)]
Phonetic hangul: [우(ː)]
- Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

Hanja

Wikisource友 (eumhun 벗 우 (beot u))

Hanja form^? of 우 (“friend; companion”).

Compounds

우정 (友情, ujeong)
우애 (友愛, uae)
붕우 (朋友, bung'u)
우호 (友好, uho)
우방 (友邦, ubang)
고우 (故友, gou)
학우 (學友, hagu)
우의 (友誼, uui)
혈우병 (血友病, hyeorubyeong)

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

友: Hán Nôm readings: hữu

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