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怃 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
怃wǔdisappointed, regretfulx, 7 strokes, radical 忄
怃wǔstartledunknown, 7 strokes, radical 忄
wǔ(wu3)wu T3
  1. 1disappointed, regretful
  2. 2startled
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March 24, 2026

怃(憮)wǔ(wu3)

The character 怃 (wǔ) conveys feelings of disappointment, regret, or being startled. It often describes a sudden emotional reaction, typically linked to unmet expectations or unforeseen circumstances. This word can appear in contexts where someone feels let down or surprised by a situation.

Strokes7Radical忄
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, expressing disappointment can be subtle, and this character captures that sentiment well. The concept of disappointment is often tied to social expectations, particularly in familial and educational contexts, where outcomes may not align with hopes.

Memory tip

Imagine a person looking disappointed after realizing their wish (represented by the '心' heart radical inside the character) has not come true. The '忄' radical suggests strong emotions, while the '勿' component can remind you to 'not' expect too much to avoid disappointment. Think of 'wǔ' as an expression of a 'whoops' moment when reality doesn't meet your hopes.

Meanings of 怃

wǔ(wu3)
1disappointed, regretful
2startled
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 怃

怃Simplified
憮Traditional
7Strokes
忄Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 怃

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Podcast: 怃

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AI study notes for 怃

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 怃 with similar-sounding characters that convey different emotions. It is generally used in informal contexts but can also appear in literary works. Common collocations include phrases that express feelings of disappointment or surprise, and the tone should be carefully pronounced as the third tone can alter meanings.

HSK Study Tips

Although 怃 is not included in the HSK lists, it is useful for learners at intermediate levels who are expanding their emotional vocabulary. Focus on recognizing its usage in literary texts and conversational language, as it can often express nuanced feelings.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 怃 with 误 (wù, mistake) due to similar pronunciation. Remember that 怃 relates to emotional responses, while 误 pertains to errors or misunderstandings. For example, saying '我怃了' (I made a mistake) is incorrect; instead, use '我觉得失望' (I feel disappointed).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 怃

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Etymology of 怃

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory hint

heart

Semantic (meaning)忄
+
Phonetic (sound)无
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

怃 = 忄 + 无. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 怃

IDS Structure⿰忄无
怃Full character
=
忄xin1
left
无wu2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 怃?

How to say disappointed, regretful in Chinese

“disappointed, regretful” in Chinese is怃wǔ

The character 怃 (wǔ) conveys feelings of disappointment, regret, or being startled. It often describes a sudden emotional reaction, typically linked to unmet expectations or unforeseen circumstances. This word can appear in contexts where someone feels let down or surprised by a situation.

When to use 怃

Be careful not to confuse 怃 with similar-sounding characters that convey different emotions. It is generally used in informal contexts but can also appear in literary works. Common collocations include phrases that express feelings of disappointment or surprise, and the tone should be carefully pronounced as the third tone can alter meanings.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 怃 with 误 (wù, mistake) due to similar pronunciation. Remember that 怃 relates to emotional responses, while 误 pertains to errors or misunderstandings. For example, saying '我怃了' (I made a mistake) is incorrect; instead, use '我觉得失望' (I feel disappointed).

Write 怃

怃

Practice writing 怃 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 怃

Words containing this character1
怃wǔstartled憮

Frequently asked questions about 怃

You might say '我对这个结果感到怃' (I feel disappointed about this result).

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