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芜 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
芜
wú
weeds; overgrowth
ns, 7 strokes, radical 艹, rank #44576, Very Hard
芜
wú
overgrown with weeds
unknown, 7 strokes, radical 艹, rank #44576, Very Hard
wú(wu2)wu T2
1weeds; overgrowth
2overgrown with weeds
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March 24, 2026
芜(蕪)wú(wu2)
The character 芜 (wú) refers to weeds or overgrowth, often describing an area that has become unkempt or filled with unwanted plants. It is frequently used in literary contexts to convey neglect or the idea of something being overrun by nature, suggesting a need for cultivation or order.
Strokes7Radical艹Frequency#44576DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In traditional Chinese gardening, the concept of maintaining order among plants is significant. The presence of 芜 can symbolize neglect not just of the garden but also of moral or cultural values, reflecting the importance of harmony and balance in Chinese culture.
Memory tip
Imagine a garden that has gone wild with weeds, where the plants are so tangled that you can't see the flowers. The character 芜 looks like a bushy plant with its radical '艹' (grass) on top, representing the idea of growth that has become chaotic and unmanageable.
Meanings of 芜
wú(wu2)
1weeds; overgrowth
2overgrown with weeds
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 芜 means.
About 芜
芜Simplified
蕪Traditional
7Strokes
艹Radical
地名míngcíplace name (p.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 芜
Podcast: 芜
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AI study notes for 芜
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 芜 with similar characters that relate to plants or growth, such as 花 (huā) meaning flower. It's commonly used in literary contexts but less so in everyday conversation, so be mindful of the register in which you use it.
HSK Study Tips
Though 芜 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it can be related to other plant-related characters at higher levels. Learners should focus on recognizing its context in literature and poetry, as it may appear in metaphorical language.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is using 芜 in contexts where one might use 生长 (shēng zhǎng, to grow) instead. For example, saying '这个花园长得很芜' (This garden grows very weedy) should be corrected to '这个花园长得很杂草' (This garden is filled with weeds).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 芜
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 芜 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
芜 = 艹 + 无. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 芜
IDS Structure⿱艹无
芜Full character
=
艹cao3
top
无wu2
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 芜?
How to say weeds; overgrowth in Chinese
“weeds; overgrowth” in Chinese is芜wú
The character 芜 (wú) refers to weeds or overgrowth, often describing an area that has become unkempt or filled with unwanted plants. It is frequently used in literary contexts to convey neglect or the idea of something being overrun by nature, suggesting a need for cultivation or order.
When to use 芜
Learners often confuse 芜 with similar characters that relate to plants or growth, such as 花 (huā) meaning flower. It's commonly used in literary contexts but less so in everyday conversation, so be mindful of the register in which you use it.
What learners get wrong
A common mistake is using 芜 in contexts where one might use 生长 (shēng zhǎng, to grow) instead. For example, saying '这个花园长得很芜' (This garden grows very weedy) should be corrected to '这个花园长得很杂草' (This garden is filled with weeds).
Write 芜
芜
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Practice writing 芜 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 芜
芜 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 2 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
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
他决定为在澳大利亚西部人为导致荒____的土地上重新造林做点事情。
He decided to do something about reforesting man-made wastes of western Australia.
