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摀 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
to conceal, to hide; to cover with a handx, 13 strokes, radical 扌, Very Hard
to coverunknown, 13 strokes, radical 扌, Very Hard
(wu3) T3
  1. 1to conceal, to hide; to cover with a hand
  2. 2to cover
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March 24, 2026
(wu3)

The character 摀 (wǔ) means to conceal or hide something, often by covering it with a hand. It is commonly used in contexts where an object or information needs protection from view or exposure. This character is less frequently used compared to its variant 捂 (wǔ), but it carries the same core meaning.

Strokes13RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of hiding or concealing can relate to the importance placed on privacy and modesty. For instance, the practice of covering food or personal documents reflects a cultural value of protecting one's private matters.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person trying to hide a small treasure under their hand, trying to conceal it from prying eyes. The character 摀 features a hand (扌) component, emphasizing the action of covering or hiding something, which helps reinforce its meaning and pronunciation.

Meanings of 摀

(wu3)
1to conceal, to hide; to cover with a hand
2to cover
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 摀

Simplified
13Strokes
Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 摀

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AI Study Notes for 摀

Quick Contrast

捂 (wǔ) is a more commonly used variant for covering or concealing, while 摀 (wǔ) is less frequent but carries the same core meaning.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a person trying to hide a small treasure under their hand, trying to conceal it from prying eyes. The character 摀 features a hand (扌) component, emphasizing the action of covering or hiding something, which helps reinforce its meaning and pronunciation.

Usage Notes

Learners should be cautious not to confuse 摀 with its more commonly used variant 捂. While both mean to cover or hide, 捂 is more prevalent in everyday language. Additionally, be mindful of the tone; the third tone (wǔ) can change the meaning if mispronounced.

HSK Study Tips

Although 摀 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it is beneficial for learners at HSK 3 or 4 to recognize it as a variant of 捂. Students should focus on mastering the more commonly used 捂 first, as it appears frequently in conversation and writing.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of hiding or concealing can relate to the importance placed on privacy and modesty. For instance, the practice of covering food or personal documents reflects a cultural value of protecting one's private matters.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 摀 with 捂, mistakenly using 摀 in everyday conversation where 捂 would be appropriate. For example, saying '我把书摀起来了' instead of '我把书捂起来了' (I covered the book).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 摀

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Etymology of 摀

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

hand

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

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 摀?

Decomposition of 摀

IDS Structure⿰扌烏
Full Character
=
shou3
left
wu1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 摀?

Write 摀

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

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Cultural Notes for 摀

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, the concept of hiding or concealing can relate to the importance placed on privacy and modesty. For instance, the practice of covering food or personal documents reflects a cultural value of protecting one's private matters.

Word Family of 摀

Words Containing This Character1
to cover
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 摀 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 摀

While 摀 is a valid character, it is not commonly used in modern Chinese. Instead, 捂 is preferred.