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侮 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
侮
wǔ
to insult
zg, 9 strokes, radical 亻, rank #56752, Very Hard
侮
wǔ
to ridicule
zg, 9 strokes, radical 亻, rank #56752, Very Hard
侮
wǔ
to disgrace
zg, 9 strokes, radical 亻, rank #56752, Very Hard
侮
wǔ
insult, ridicule, disgrace
zg, 9 strokes, radical 亻, rank #56752, Very Hard
wǔ(wu3)wu T3
1to insult
2to ridicule
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March 24, 2026
侮wǔ(wu3)
The character 侮 (wǔ) means to insult or ridicule someone, often implying a sense of disgrace or humiliation. It is commonly used in contexts where someone is belittled or treated with disrespect, whether in personal interactions or in broader social commentary.
Strokes9Radical亻Frequency#56752DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
The concept of disgrace is significant in Chinese culture, where maintaining face and respect is crucial in social interactions. Insults can have long-lasting effects on relationships, making the understanding of 侮 particularly relevant in both personal and professional settings.
Memory tip
Imagine a person (represented by the radical 亻) being mocked (侮) by another, causing them to feel small and disgraced. The sound 'wǔ' can remind you of a 'woe' that the insulted person feels in this painful scenario.
Meanings of 侮
wǔ(wu3)
1to insult
2to ridicule
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 侮 means.
About 侮
侮Simplified
9Strokes
亻Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#56752Frequency Rank
Podcast: 侮
Podcast: 侮
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AI study notes for 侮
Quick Contrast
侮 (wǔ) vs 辱 (rǔ) — use 侮 when emphasizing the act of insulting or ridiculing, while 辱 focuses more on the aspect of shame or disgrace.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone when using 侮, as it carries a strong negative connotation and is generally used in more formal contexts. Common collocations include '侮辱' (to insult) and '侮蔑' (to disdain), which are often used in written Chinese. Avoid using it lightly in casual conversations.
HSK Study Tips
Although 侮 is not in the HSK vocabulary lists, it shares roots with other words expressing disrespect, such as 侮辱 (wǔrǔ). Focus on its usage with verbs and adjectives related to social interactions to grasp its implications in various contexts.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 侮 with lighter terms for teasing or joking, which can dilute its serious connotation. For example, saying '我们只是侮他一点' (We just insulted him a bit) is incorrect; it should be '我们只是开玩笑' (We were just joking).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 侮
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Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
The character 侮 (wǔ) means to insult or ridicule someone, often implying a sense of disgrace or humiliation. It is commonly used in contexts where someone is belittled or treated with disrespect, whether in personal interactions or in broader social commentary.
When to use 侮
Be cautious with the tone when using 侮, as it carries a strong negative connotation and is generally used in more formal contexts. Common collocations include '侮辱' (to insult) and '侮蔑' (to disdain), which are often used in written Chinese. Avoid using it lightly in casual conversations.
侮 or something close to it
侮 (wǔ) vs 辱 (rǔ) — use 侮 when emphasizing the act of insulting or ridiculing, while 辱 focuses more on the aspect of shame or disgrace.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 侮 with lighter terms for teasing or joking, which can dilute its serious connotation. For example, saying '我们只是侮他一点' (We just insulted him a bit) is incorrect; it should be '我们只是开玩笑' (We were just joking).
Write 侮
侮
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Practice writing 侮 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 侮
侮 carries 4 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 5
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
布坎南说法官的那番话____辱了他。
Buchanan said he was insulted by the judge's remarks.
Example sentences for 侮 (9)
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1
布坎南说法官的那番话侮辱了他。
bù kǎn nán shuōfǎ guān de nà fān huà wǔrǔ le tā。
Buchanan said he was insulted by the judge's remarks.
2
一有机会，同事们就会侮辱他们。
yī yǒujī huì， tóngshì men jiù huì wǔrǔ tāmen。
Their colleagues insulted them whenever the opportunity presented itself.
3
其中一名学徒对着一名路过的警官说了一句侮辱他的话。
qízhōng yī míng xué tú duì zhe yī míng lùguò de jǐngguān shuō le yī jù wǔrǔ tā dehuà。
One of the apprentices made an insulting remark to a passing officer.
4
请原谅，我并非有意侮辱你。
qǐng yuánliàng， wǒ bìngfēi yǒuyì wǔrǔ nǐ。
Forgive me, I don't mean to insult you.
5
我很少读到像这篇文章般带有侮辱性的性别歧视的东西。
wǒ hěnshǎo dú dào xiàng zhè piān wénzhāng bān dàiyǒu wǔrǔ xìng de xìngbié qíshì de dōngxi。
I have rarely read anything so insultingly sexist as this article.
6
这种对神的侮辱越大则其对人的危险也越大。
zhè zhǒng duì shén de wǔrǔ yuè dà zé qí duì rén de wēixiǎn yě yuè dà。
And as the contumely is greater towards god, so the danger is greater towards men.
7
我受够了你的侮辱, 不能再容忍了.
wǒ shòu gòu le nǐ de wǔrǔ, bù néng zài róngrěn le.
I've had enough of your insolence , and I'm having no more.
8
他被指称使用过侮辱性语言。
tā bèi zhǐ chèn shǐyòng guò wǔrǔ xìng yǔyán。
He was alleged to have used abusive language.
9
他的脸因受到侮辱而涨得通红.
tā de liǎn yīn shòudào wǔrǔ ér zhǎng de tōnghóng.
He turned crimson under the insults.
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Word Family of 侮
Words containing this character9
侮辱wǔrǔto insult
欺侮qīwǔto bully
侮wǔto insult
侮蔑wǔmiècontempt
轻侮qīngwǔto slight輕侮
侮慢wǔmànto humiliate
戏侮xìwǔto insult戲侮
侮弄wǔnòngto mock
侮骂wǔmàto scold侮罵
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 侮
What does 侮辱 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 侮
While it can be used, it is more appropriate in formal contexts or serious discussions about disrespect.
Synonyms include 侮辱 (wǔrǔ) and 轻视 (qīngshì), which also convey disrespect.
Generally, no; 侮 carries a heavy implication of insult and should be reserved for more serious contexts.
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