幼 yòu infant
infant; young child; immature
How to remember 幼: 幺 smallest + 力 power = infant. The smallest one in the family uses all his power to lift a spoon, still just an infant.
Component breakdown
幼 = 幺 smallest + 力 power
- 幺 smallest
- 力 power
The smallest one in the family uses all his power to lift a spoon, still just an infant.
How it is used
- 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".