Meanings of 蜗
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 蜗
Podcast: 蜗
Podcast: 蜗
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 蜗
Imagine a snail (蜗) slowly moving with its shell on its back. The character has the radical for insect (虫) at the bottom, which can help you remember that it relates to an animal. Picture the snail curling up, resembling the rounded shape of the letter 'o' in 'wō'.
Be careful with the pronunciation, particularly the tone. In Mandarin, 蜗 is pronounced with a first tone (wō), but in Taiwan, it can sometimes be pronounced with a different tone (gua1). It is often used in combination with other words, such as 蜗牛 (wō niú) for 'snail'.
While not part of the official HSK vocabulary, 蜗 can enhance your understanding of animal-related terms. Focus on the association of this character with the insect radical and practice combining it with other characters related to animals or nature.
In Chinese culture, the snail is often seen as a symbol of patience and resilience due to its slow movement and ability to retreat into its shell. This concept can be reflected in various idiomatic expressions that encourage perseverance.
Learners often confuse 蜗 (wō) with similar characters due to the tone, mistakenly saying 'guō' instead of 'wō'. Additionally, some might incorrectly use it in less common collocations, such as trying to pair it with unrelated animals.
Pronunciation of 蜗
Drill the tone of 蜗 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Etymology of 蜗
mollusk
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 蜗?
Decomposition of 蜗
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 蜗?
Write 蜗
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 蜗 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 蜗
蜗 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.
Complete the Sentence
火车这会儿走得跟____牛一样慢。
The train was moving now at a snail's pace.
Example Sentences for 蜗 (2)
Cultural Notes for 蜗
In Chinese culture, the snail is often seen as a symbol of patience and resilience due to its slow movement and ability to retreat into its shell. This concept can be reflected in various idiomatic expressions that encourage perseverance.
Word Family of 蜗
Compound Meaning
What does 蜗牛 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 蜗
Primarily, yes, 蜗 describes snails, but it can also be used metaphorically to refer to slowness in general.