Meanings of 嗚
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About 嗚
Podcast: 嗚
Podcast: 嗚
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AI Study Notes for 嗚
Be cautious using 嗚 in formal contexts, as it is more suitable for informal or emotional expressions. It may also appear in poetry or songs rather than everyday conversation. A common mistake is confusing it with 哀 (āi), which refers to mourning more generally; 嗚 is specifically about the sound of crying.
Although 嗚 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it shares emotional connotations with other level-appropriate words like 哭 (kū), meaning 'to cry.' Focus on recognizing how these words can enhance emotional expression in Mandarin.
Learners often confuse 嗚 with similar-sounding characters like 呜 (wū), which also represents a sound but is used more broadly. Remember, 嗚 specifically conveys the sound of crying.
Pronunciation of 嗚
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Etymology of 嗚
Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 乌 represents the sound. Simplified form of 嗚.
mouth
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 嗚
Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 乌 represents the sound. Simplified form of 嗚.
- 1The meaning half口 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half烏 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawaymouth
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
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Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 嗚
Identify the Components
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How to say the sound of someone crying or sobbing in Chinese
“the sound of someone crying or sobbing” in Chinese is嗚
The character 嗚 (wū) represents the sound of sobbing or crying, often used to express grief or sadness. It captures an emotional vocalization rather than a specific action, and is commonly found in literary contexts or emotional dialogues.
When to use 嗚
Be cautious using 嗚 in formal contexts, as it is more suitable for informal or emotional expressions. It may also appear in poetry or songs rather than everyday conversation. A common mistake is confusing it with 哀 (āi), which refers to mourning more generally; 嗚 is specifically about the sound of crying.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 嗚 with similar-sounding characters like 呜 (wū), which also represents a sound but is used more broadly. Remember, 嗚 specifically conveys the sound of crying.
Write 嗚
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Practice writing 嗚 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 嗚
Compound Meaning
What does 呜 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 嗚
No, it's more common in emotional contexts such as literature or poetry.
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