油 icon

oil, grease

is composed of the radical (water) and (reason). originally depicted a liquid congealing into fat, meaning oil. Later, as the meaning of shifted to other meanings, the liquid radical was added to create the new character to specifically denote this liquid.

Vocabulary of 油

  • 油畫 (oil painting)
  • 油庫 (fuel depot)
  • 石油 (petroleum)

Related Characters: