与 yǔ and

源How it came to be

What is left of the full form: four hands, two above and two below, passing one thing between them, people acting with each other. Simplification kept three strokes and threw the hands away.

用How it is used

• Formal 'and / with,' the written equivalent of 和 or 跟 - 中国与世界 (Zhōngguó yǔ shìjiè) China and the world.
• Common in titles and formal writing; also the frame 与其…不如 (yǔqí…bùrú) 'rather than…, better to…'.
• Spoken register prefers 和/跟.

字Characters built with 与

• 写 write
• 屿 island
• 泻 to leak

词Words with 与

• 参与cānyùto participate (in something)HSK 5
• 与其yǔqírather than...HSK 6
• 与众不同yǔzhòng-bùtóngto stand out from the crowdHSK 7
• 与否yǔfǒuwhether or not (at the end of a phrase)HSK 7
• 与日俱增yǔrì-jùzēngto increase steadilyHSK 8
• 与时俱进yǔshí-jùjìnabreast of modern developmentsHSK 8

句Example sentences

• 他与我同龄。 Tā yǔ wǒ tónglíng.He and I are the same age.
• 与薄相对的是厚。 Yǔ báo xiāngduì de shì hòu.Thin is the opposite of thick.