Skip to content
Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
巫婆 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
巫婆wūpówitchHSK 7, unknown, 18 strokes, rank #6662, Very Hard
巫婆wūpósorceressHSK 7, unknown, 18 strokes, rank #6662, Very Hard
巫婆wūpófemale shamanHSK 7, unknown, 18 strokes, rank #6662, Very Hard
wūpó(wu1po2)wu po T1
  1. 1witch
  2. 2sorceress
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

巫婆wūpó(wu1po2)

巫婆 (wū pó) refers to a witch or sorceress, often depicted as a woman who practices magic or has supernatural powers. This term is commonly used in folklore and stories, where巫婆 can be portrayed as either a villain or a wise figure. It highlights the cultural significance of female shamans and their roles in traditional beliefs.

Strokes18Frequency#6662DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture,巫婆 can be linked to traditional practices of shamanism, where women often acted as spiritual intermediaries. This reflects the historical significance of female figures in Chinese folklore, embodying both wisdom and danger.

Memory tip

Imagine a 'witch' (巫) wearing a 'hat' (婆) that resembles a pot, symbolizing her magical brew. The 'wū' sounds like 'woo,' which a witch might say to charm someone, while 'pó' rhymes with 'more,' as in 'more magic.' Visualize her casting spells with her pot to remember the character!

Meanings of 巫婆

wūpó(wu1po2)
1witch
2sorceress
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 巫婆 means.

About 巫婆

巫婆Simplified
18Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 巫婆

JasonAmy

Podcast: 巫婆

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI study notes for 巫婆

Quick Contrast

女巫 (nǚwū) — use 巫婆 (wūpó) for a more folklore-oriented context, while 女巫 (nǚwū) is more commonly used in modern contexts.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 巫婆 with similar terms like 女巫 (nǚ wū), which specifically means 'female witch,' while 巫婆 can imply a broader range of sorcery. It's generally informal and used in storytelling or to describe characters in folklore. Pay attention to the tones: 'wū' (high first tone) and 'pó' (rising second tone) are crucial for correct pronunciation.

HSK Study Tips

Although 巫婆 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects to themes of folklore and cultural stories common in HSK 3 and 4. Focus on understanding the context in which巫婆 appears in literature or conversation, as it can enrich your vocabulary related to culture and mythology.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use巫婆 to refer to any witch without considering gender. For example, saying '我看到一个巫婆' (I saw a witch) while referring to a male character would be incorrect; the correct term would be '巫师' (wū shī).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 巫婆

Premium — Locked

Tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 巫婆, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsPitch drawing+5 XP
Get Pro to unlock

Jason Explains 巫婆 to you

Let me explain 巫婆 for you

Make it yours

Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 巫婆 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.

How well do you know 巫婆?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 巫婆 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.

  • MeaningFree
  • CharacterFree
  • PinyinFree
  • TonePro
  • ListeningPro
  • SpeakingPro
  • WritingPro
See the Learning Lab Three facets free · no card needed

Component characters

巫wūwizard, sorcerer, witch, shaman
HSK 77 strokes工
View full entry
婆pógrandmother
11 strokes女
View full entry

How to say witch in Chinese

“witch” in Chinese is巫婆wūpó

巫婆 (wū pó) refers to a witch or sorceress, often depicted as a woman who practices magic or has supernatural powers. This term is commonly used in folklore and stories, where巫婆 can be portrayed as either a villain or a wise figure. It highlights the cultural significance of female shamans and their roles in traditional beliefs.

When to use 巫婆

Learners often confuse 巫婆 with similar terms like 女巫 (nǚ wū), which specifically means 'female witch,' while 巫婆 can imply a broader range of sorcery. It's generally informal and used in storytelling or to describe characters in folklore. Pay attention to the tones: 'wū' (high first tone) and 'pó' (rising second tone) are crucial for correct pronunciation.

巫婆 or something close to it

女巫 (nǚwū) — use 巫婆 (wūpó) for a more folklore-oriented context, while 女巫 (nǚwū) is more commonly used in modern contexts.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly use巫婆 to refer to any witch without considering gender. For example, saying '我看到一个巫婆' (I saw a witch) while referring to a male character would be incorrect; the correct term would be '巫师' (wū shī).

Write 巫婆

巫
婆

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Ask Jason

Have a question about 巫婆?

Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.

Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.

Frequently asked questions about 巫婆

Not necessarily. While巫婆 can represent evil or malice in many stories, they can also be depicted as wise women or healers in certain contexts.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 巫婆?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.

A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.

See the Learning Lab