由 yóu
“to follow; from; because of; due to”
preposition, verbHSK 4 · 2021 list level 3
新HSK等级2025 HSK 3.0 syllabus level
由 appears in the November 2025 exam syllabus in the following numbered entry. Levels refer to the listed reading and use, not every meaning.
- Entry 1885: 由 yóu — Level 4; official annotation 4 (介). PDF page 127
Separate from the HSK 2.0 and 2021 list labels above. Compare the three lists.
用法How to use 由
由 introduces the person or thing that performs an action, especially in planned or formal-sounding everyday sentences; English often translates it as 'by'. The usual pattern is 由 + doer + verb, as in 由我来回答. The verb stays active in form, even though the English version may be passive.
例句Example sentences
- 这个问题由我来回答。zhè ge wèn tí yóu wǒ lái huí dá.I'll answer this question.
- 这次旅行由王老师安排。zhè cì lǚ xíng yóu wáng lǎo shī ān pái.This trip is arranged by Teacher Wang.
- 会议的时间由大家决定。huì yì de shí jiān yóu dà jiā jué dìng.The meeting time will be decided by everyone.
常见错误Common mistakes
-
✗这个问题回答由我。
✓这个问题由我回答。
The 由 phrase comes before the verb, not after it.
-
✗这次活动由学生会的组织。
✓这次活动由学生会组织。
由 is followed by the doer and then an action verb, not by a 的 noun phrase.