Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
唔wú(wu2)
The character 唔 (wú) primarily serves as an expression of agreement or surprise, similar to saying 'oh' or 'uh-huh' in English. In Cantonese, it functions as a negation, meaning 'not.' It can also imply holding something in the mouth or biting, showing its versatility in different contexts.
Strokes10Radical口Frequency#1433DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Cantonese culture, the expression 唔 is a common conversational filler that indicates acknowledgment or agreement, reflecting the interactive nature of communication. It serves as a way to maintain engagement in discussions.
Memory Tip
Imagine a surprised face with a mouth open saying 'Wuu!' when they agree. The character 唔 looks like an open mouth, suggesting the sound it represents. Picture someone biting into a delicious fruit and exclaiming 'Wú!' in delight.
Meanings of 唔
wú(wu2)
1to hold in the mouth; bite
2oh (expression of agreement or surprise)
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 唔
唔Simplified
10Strokes
口Radical
语气词yǔqìcímodal particle (mod.part.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 唔
Podcast: 唔
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 唔
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a surprised face with a mouth open saying 'Wuu!' when they agree. The character 唔 looks like an open mouth, suggesting the sound it represents. Picture someone biting into a delicious fruit and exclaiming 'Wú!' in delight.
Usage Notes
While 唔 is often used informally in conversation, learners should be cautious not to confuse it with 吗 (ma), which forms yes/no questions. In Cantonese, using 唔 correctly in negation is essential, as it can change the meaning of your sentence significantly.
HSK Study Tips
Although 唔 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, understanding its usage in conversational contexts is crucial for achieving fluency. Students should focus on recognizing its role in dialogues, especially in Cantonese-speaking environments.
Cultural Note
In Cantonese culture, the expression 唔 is a common conversational filler that indicates acknowledgment or agreement, reflecting the interactive nature of communication. It serves as a way to maintain engagement in discussions.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 唔 with 吗 (ma), mistakenly using it in question forms. For example, saying '你好吗？' (Nǐ hǎo wú?) instead of '你好吗？' (Nǐ hǎo ma?) is incorrect.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 唔
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 唔 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 唔 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 唔
唔 functions as a grammatical particle — it carries no standalone meaning but signals a grammatical relationship. Particles attach to specific positions in the sentence (clause-final 吗/吧/呢, post-verbal 了/过/着, post-noun 的) and rarely move. It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
None of us stayed long. I mean, the atmosphere wasn't— well, you know what I mean.
5
" 那才丢你三辈子的脸呢 ---- 唔, 再一次请你原谅.
" " nà cái diū nǐ sān bèi zǐ de liǎn---- ne, ---- wù , zài yī cì qǐng.
" Hell's afire -- Well, I beg your pardon again.
6
" 唔, 艾希礼, 请扶住我, 我害怕极了!
" ", wù , ài, xī lǐ , qǐng, fú zhù wǒ , wǒ!
" Oh, Ashley, hold me. I'm so frightened! "
Cultural Notes for 唔
🏮Cultural insight
In Cantonese culture, the expression 唔 is a common conversational filler that indicates acknowledgment or agreement, reflecting the interactive nature of communication. It serves as a way to maintain engagement in discussions.
Word Family of 唔
Words Containing This Character1
唔wú(Cantonese) not
Exercise 1 of 1
Compound Meaning
What does 唔 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 唔
You can use 唔 to show agreement, like saying '唔，好！' (Wú, hǎo!) meaning 'Oh, okay!'.
唔 is primarily a Cantonese expression, but it can be heard in informal Mandarin conversations, though it's less common.
In Cantonese, it means 'not'; in Mandarin, it expresses agreement or surprise.
