揄

A phono-semantic compound consisting of:

手 (hand) — semantic component, indicates an action or gesture;

兪 — phonetic component, supplying the sound (유 / yú).

Originally, it likely conveyed gestural mockery or teasing action.

In Korean, 揄 appears almost exclusively in 揶揄.

야유 (揶揄) — jeering; mockery

揄 is almost always paired with 揶, forming a fixed literary expression.

Together with 揶, it forms one of the common terms for ridicule in East Asian languages.

Related characters:

揶 — to mock (paired with 揄)

嘲 — to ridicule

笑 — to laugh

諷 — to satirize