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March 24, 2026
武Wǔ(Wu3)
The character 武 (wǔ) primarily means 'martial' or 'military,' often associated with skills in combat or warfare. It is commonly used in contexts related to martial arts, military affairs, and can also serve as a surname in Chinese culture. In more modern contexts, it may refer to various forms of organized fighting or military strategy.
Strokes8Radical止Frequency#7633DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
武 has deep historical roots in Chinese culture, often associated with the ancient warrior ethos and the philosophy of martial arts, which emphasizes discipline and respect. Notably, 武 is integral to the identity of famous figures in Chinese history, such as the legendary warrior Guan Yu.
Memory Tip
Imagine a warrior (武) standing strong, with a sword in hand, ready to defend. The character is composed of the radical 戈 (spear) on the left, symbolizing weapons, and the phonetic component 舞 (wǔ), meaning 'dance.' Visualize the warrior dancing gracefully while wielding their spear, embodying both martial skill and elegance.
Meanings of 武
Wǔ(Wu3)
1martial
2military
Exercise 1 of 3
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 武
武Simplified
8Strokes
止Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#7633Frequency Rank
Podcast: 武
Podcast: 武
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AI Study Notes for 武
Quick Contrast
武 (wǔ) vs 军 (jūn) — choose 武 when emphasizing martial skills or arts, while 军 refers specifically to military forces or troops.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a warrior (武) standing strong, with a sword in hand, ready to defend. The character is composed of the radical 戈 (spear) on the left, symbolizing weapons, and the phonetic component 舞 (wǔ), meaning 'dance.' Visualize the warrior dancing gracefully while wielding their spear, embodying both martial skill and elegance.
Usage Notes
Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing 武 (wǔ), as mispronunciation can lead to confusion with other words. It is often used in formal contexts related to military or martial arts, such as 武术 (wǔshù, martial arts) or 武器 (wǔqì, weapons). Avoid using it in casual conversation unless discussing specific martial topics.
HSK Study Tips
While 武 is not part of the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects with other words related to martial arts and military, such as 战 (zhàn, battle) and 军 (jūn, army). Focus on recognizing its use in compound words to enhance understanding of military-related contexts.
Cultural Note
武 has deep historical roots in Chinese culture, often associated with the ancient warrior ethos and the philosophy of martial arts, which emphasizes discipline and respect. Notably, 武 is integral to the identity of famous figures in Chinese history, such as the legendary warrior Guan Yu.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 武 (wǔ) with the similar sounding word 物 (wù), which means 'thing' or 'object.' For example, saying '我喜欢武' (wǒ xǐhuān wǔ) intending to mean 'I like martial arts' should actually be '我喜欢武术' (wǒ xǐhuān wǔshù).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 武
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Grammar Patterns of 武
武 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 4 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
警察以携带攻击性____器为由逮捕了我。
The police nicked me for carrying an offensive weapon.
Common Confusions with 武
武vs五
wǔ
Same pronunciation but different meanings and shapes.
武vs舞
wǔ
Similar pronunciation and shape but different meanings.
Exercise 1 of 1
Spot the Difference
Which character means "martial"?
or
Example Sentences for 武 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
警察以携带攻击性武器为由逮捕了我。
jǐng chá yǐ xié dài gōng jī xìng wǔ qì wéi yóu dài bǔ le wǒ。
The police nicked me for carrying an offensive weapon.
It is unlikely that the rebels will agree to demobilise.
10
他们想找借口用武力征服这个地区。
tā mén xiǎng zhǎo jiè kǒu yòng wǔ lì zhēng fú zhè gè dì qū。
They wanted a pretext for subduing the region by force.
Cultural Notes for 武
🏮Cultural insight
武 has deep historical roots in Chinese culture, often associated with the ancient warrior ethos and the philosophy of martial arts, which emphasizes discipline and respect. Notably, 武 is integral to the identity of famous figures in Chinese history, such as the legendary warrior Guan Yu.
Word Family of 武
Compounds12
赋fu4poetic essay
鹉wu3species of parrot
斌bin1ornamental, refined
倵
珷
碔
虣
娬
賦fu4tax; to give, to bestow
錻
陚
鵡wu3species of parrot
Words Containing This Character20
武器wǔqìweapon
武装wǔzhuāngarms武裝
武汉Wuhan city on Changjiang, subprovincial city and capital of Hubei province武漢
武Wǔmartial
武士warrior
核武器héwǔqìnuclear weapon
武林martial arts (social) circles
武功martial art
武术wǔshùself-defense武術
武力wǔlìmilitary force
武警armed police
威武might
武汉市Wuhan city on Changjiang, subprovincial city and capital of Hubei province武漢市
比武tournament
武艺martial art武藝
武侠wǔxiáknight-errant武俠
武装力量armed force武裝力量
武昌Wuchang district of Wuhan city 武漢市|武汉市[Wǔhànshì], Hubei
武将general武將
武断arbitrary武斷
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 赋 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 武
The character 武 (wǔ) has roots in ancient Chinese civilization, where it was linked to military affairs and martial prowess. It is derived from the combination of elements that convey the ideas of strength and combat.
Yes, 武 (wǔ) is commonly used in modern Chinese to refer to military matters and martial arts. It appears in various contemporary contexts, including media and literature related to martial themes.
武 (wǔ) primarily means 'military' or 'martial' in Chinese. It is often associated with concepts related to warfare and strength. Additionally, 武 can also be a common surname in China.
You can use 武 (wǔ) in phrases like '武术' (wǔshù), which means 'martial arts.' Another example is '武器' (wǔqì), meaning 'weapons.' These phrases illustrate its connection to military and martial contexts.
In martial arts, 武 signifies the skills and practices related to combat, emphasizing both physical and philosophical aspects.
Yes, 武 (Wǔ) is a common Chinese surname, and it can also be found in historical texts and family lineages.
You can use 武 in phrases like 武术 (wǔshù) to refer to martial arts or 武器 (wǔqì) to refer to weapons.
