Usage note
油表示液体燃料或做饭用的食用油。
yóu biǎo shì yè tǐ rán liào huò zuò fàn yòng de shí yòng yóu。
油 means fuel or cooking oil.
Context note
油常用于厨房、汽车和身体。
yóu cháng yòng yú chú fáng 、 qì chē hé shēn tǐ。
油 is often used in kitchens, cars, and the body.
5 examples
锅里有油。
guō lǐ yǒu yóu。
There is oil in the pan.
我买了食用油。
wǒ mǎi le shí yòng yóu。
I bought cooking oil.
车子要加油。
chē zi yào jiā yóu。
The car needs fuel.
这个菜放了很多油。
zhè ge cài fàng le hěn duō yóu。
This dish has a lot of oil.
头发有点油。
tóu fa yǒu diǎn yóu。
The hair is a bit oily.
5 mini stories
妈妈做饭时放了一点油。
mā ma zuò fàn shí fàng le yì diǎn yóu。
Mom put a little oil when cooking.
汽车没有油了。
qì chē méi yǒu yóu le。
The car ran out of fuel.
这个汤有点油。
zhè ge tāng yǒu diǎn yóu。
This soup is a little oily.
他把油倒进锅里。
tā bǎ yóu dǎo jìn guō lǐ。
He poured oil into the pan.
别让手上沾太多油。
bié ràng shǒu shàng zhān tài duō yóu。
Do not get too much oil on your hands.
Mini dialogue
帮忙做饭
A
炒菜需要放多少油？
Chǎo cài xūyào fàng duōshao yóu?
How much oil do you need to put in for stir-frying?
B
放一点点油就可以了。
Fàng yì diǎn diǎn yóu jiù kěyǐ le.
Just a little bit of oil is enough.
画画课
A
我的油画棒用完了。
Wǒ de yóuhuà bàng yòng wán le.
I've used up my oil pastels.
B
别担心，我的油画棒可以借给你。
Bié dānxīn, wǒ de yóuhuà bàng kěyǐ jiè gěi nǐ.
Don't worry, I can lend you my oil pastels.
Related words and contrasts
contrast
水
shuǐ
water
Oil and water do not mix; a common contrast in daily life.
related
汽油
qìyóu
petrol; gasoline
A specific type of oil used as fuel for cars.