Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
卧(臥)wò(wo4)
The character 卧 (wò) primarily means 'to lie down' or 'to crouch.' It is commonly used in contexts related to resting, sleeping, or taking a position close to the ground, such as in the phrase '卧床' (wò chuáng), meaning 'to lie in bed.' The nuance of this word suggests a position of relaxation or submission.
Strokes8Radical臣Frequency#11444DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, the concept of rest and sleep is often emphasized, especially in relation to health and wellness practices such as Traditional Chinese Medicine. The term 卧 is commonly used in discussions about maintaining balance and harmony in one's life.
Memory Tip
Imagine a cat (卧) lying down comfortably on a mat. The character resembles a person lying down (the horizontal stroke at the top) with their legs tucked in. This visual helps you remember both the meaning and the pronunciation 'wò.'
Meanings of 卧
wò(wo4)
1to lie
2to crouch
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 卧
卧Simplified
臥Traditional
8Strokes
臣Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#11444Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 卧
Podcast: 卧
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 卧
Quick Contrast
卧 (wò) vs 躺 (tǎng) — use 卧 for a more general or formal context of lying down, while 躺 emphasizes a relaxed or informal posture.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a cat (卧) lying down comfortably on a mat. The character resembles a person lying down (the horizontal stroke at the top) with their legs tucked in. This visual helps you remember both the meaning and the pronunciation 'wò.'
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 卧 with other similar-sounding words like '我' (wǒ, I). 卧 is more commonly used in a physical context, while 我 refers to the first-person pronoun. It is generally used in both formal and informal settings, but specific phrases like '卧病' (wò bìng, to be bedridden) may have a more formal tone.
HSK Study Tips
While 卧 is not included in the official HSK levels, it is useful for learners at HSK Level 3 or above, as it connects to verbs of position and movement. Focus on using it in phrases related to resting and sleeping to contextualize its usage.
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, the concept of rest and sleep is often emphasized, especially in relation to health and wellness practices such as Traditional Chinese Medicine. The term 卧 is commonly used in discussions about maintaining balance and harmony in one's life.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 卧 in contexts where another verb like '躺' (tǎng, to recline) is more appropriate. For example, saying '我卧在沙发上' (Wǒ wò zài shāfā shàng) should be corrected to '我躺在沙发上' (Wǒ tǎng zài shāfā shàng).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 卧
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 卧 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 卧 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 卧
卧 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 3 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
双____室的公寓每月房租是953.33英镑。
The monthly rent for a two-bedroom flat would be £
Common Confusions with 卧
卧vs坐
zuò
Both are verbs describing positions, but '卧' means to lie down while '坐' means to sit.
Exercise 1 of 1
Spot the Difference
Which character means "to lie"?
or
Usage Notes for 卧
Usage in ContextGrammar Tip
'卧' is often used in contexts involving rest or positioning, and can denote both action and state.
tā nà jǐn yǒu yī zhāng zhǎi chuáng de jiǎn lòu wò shì
her austere bedroom with its simple narrow bed
10
“我把他关在了卧室外面，”莫琳说。
“ “ wǒ bǎ tā guān zài le wò shì wài，” miàn ，” mò。
"I shut him out of the bedroom," says Maureen.
Cultural Notes for 卧
🏮Cultural insight
In traditional Chinese culture, the concept of rest and sleep is often emphasized, especially in relation to health and wellness practices such as Traditional Chinese Medicine. The term 卧 is commonly used in discussions about maintaining balance and harmony in one's life.
Word Family of 卧
Words Containing This Character20
卧室wòshìbedroom臥室
卧wòto lie臥
卧底a mole臥底
俯卧撑push-up俯臥撐
卧倒to lie down臥倒
卧床bed臥床
仰卧to lie supine仰臥
卧铺wòpùa couchette臥鋪
卧房bedroom臥房
仰卧起坐sit-up (physical exercise)仰臥起坐
侧卧to lie on one's side側臥
俯卧to lie prone俯臥
卧薪尝胆fig. to maintain one's resolve for revenge臥薪嘗膽
硬卧hard sleeper (a type of sleeper train ticket class with a harder bunk)硬臥
软卧soft sleeper (a type of sleeper train ticket class with a softer bunk)軟臥
卧病ill in bed臥病
藏龙卧虎concealed talent藏龍臥虎
卧轨to lie across the railway tracks (to commit suicide or to prevent trains from getting through)臥軌
倒卧to lie down倒臥
卧榻a couch臥榻
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 卧室 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 卧
You can say '我喜欢卧在沙发上看书' (Wǒ xǐhuān wò zài shāfā shàng kàn shū), meaning 'I like to lie on the sofa and read.'
While its primary meaning is 'to lie down,' it can also imply crouching or resting in a low position.
Common phrases include '卧床' (to lie in bed) and '卧室' (bedroom).
