酉
The 酉 radical
Wine vessel
Memory hook
A narrow-necked jar holding fermenting wine. Characters with it all involve alcohol and fermentation: 酒 (wine), 醉 (drunk), 酸 (sour), 醋 (vinegar).
The 酉 radical (read yǒu) means wine vessel. The HSK 3.0 data contains 17 characters and 64 words built on it — learning them together is far faster than one character at a time.
Practise the 酉 radical
Study this radical's 64 words with flashcards or a quiz.
The free plan drills 15 words per radical. Upgrade to Premium
Characters with the 酉 radical
17 charactersHSK 2· 1 characters
HSK 2酒
alcohol; wine
HSK 3· 1 characters
HSK 3配
to match; to go with
HSK 4· 2 characters
HSK 4酸
sour
醒
to wake up, to be awake
HSK 5· 1 characters
HSK 5醉
drunk
HSK 6· 3 characters
HSK 6酱
sauce, paste
酷
harsh, severe
醋
vinegar
HSK 7-9· 9 characters
HSK 7-9酌
to pour wine, to fill a cup
酗
intoxicated, addicted to drink
酝
to brew (wine), to ferment
酣
intoxicated, immersed (in a state of fervor or enthusiasm)
酥
crisp, flaky (usually describing food)
酬
to repay a kindness; to requite
酵
to ferment
酿
to ferment, to brew (wine)
醇
pure; unadulterated
Vocabulary with the 酉 radical
64 wordsWords containing at least one character with the 酉 radical, ordered by HSK level.
The free plan shows 9 words per HSK level (39/64 words of this radical).
alcohol; wine
hotel
to allocate; to distribute
beer
red wine
to match; to go with
to cooperate; coordination
to remind
clear-minded, lucid
bar
sour
yogurt
to wake up, to be awake
to control, to dominate
baijiu (Chinese spirit)
wine
to provide, to equip
to accompany, to match
alcoholic
sour, sweet, bitter, and spicy
drunk
to match, to coordinate
fruit jam
cruel, brutal
to allocate, to arrange
drinks, beverages
sauce, paste
soy sauce
harsh, severe
vinegar
cruel; ruthless
cold-blooded and ruthless; utterly heartless
to match, to be compatible
fermentation
wedding feast wine (at a wedding)
enraptured; entranced as if intoxicated
social engagement, socializing
heartbroken, grieved, sorrowful at heart
to wake up with a start, to be startled awake (by fear or noise)
Why learn vocabulary by the 酉 radical?
The 酉 radical hints at the meaning wine vessel. When you meet an unfamiliar character carrying it, you already know part of its meaning before reaching for a dictionary — which is why learners who know their radicals move faster.
How to study: read the memory hook, skim the 17 characters to spot the pattern, then drill the 64 words with flashcards. Spaced repetition brings each word back exactly when you need it.