油 (yóu)

oil; fat; grease; petroleum; to apply tung oil, paint or varnish; oily

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 由 represents the sound.

Shuowen Jiezi

《說文》:“油,水。出武陵孱陵西,東南〔北〕入江。从水,由聲。”

Components