由 means “reason, from”

ゆう · yuu

Also: wherefore, a reason

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

よし, よる

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ユ, ユウ, ユイ

JLPT N3 · Taught in grade 3 · 5 strokes

The story

Picture a rice field (田) with one shoot pushing out through the top: the point a thing springs from. 由 is where things come from: 理由 is a reason, 自由 is freedom, acting from yourself, and 経由 is "by way of".

Used in 理由 (riyuu, reason), 自由 (jiyuu, freedom), and 経由 (keiyu, via)

More from Cause & Reason

• 例 example
• 然 so
• 限 limit
• 非 not
• 完 complete
• 因 cause
• 当 hit
• 性 nature
• 的 target
• 要 need
• 直 straight
• 果 fruit

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Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.