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卧 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
卧
wò
to lie
HSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 臣, rank #11444, Very Hard
卧
wò
to crouch
HSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 臣, rank #11444, Very Hard
卧
wò
to crouch; to lie down
HSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 臣, rank #11444, Very Hard
wò(wo4)wo T4
1to lie
2to crouch
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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#11444DifficultyVery Hard
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
By ear
Play it, then pick what 卧 means.
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
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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.
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.
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
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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.
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.
When to use 卧
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.
卧 or something close to it
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.
What learners get wrong
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).
Write 卧
卧
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Practice writing 卧 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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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
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
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
Which one
Which one 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.
1
他在床上卧着。
He is lying on the bed.
Exercise 1 of 1
Get it right
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
他在床上____着。
He is lying on the bed.
Example sentences for 卧 (10)
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1
双卧室的公寓每月房租是953.33英镑。
shuāng wòshì de gōngyù měi yuè fángzū shì953.33 yīngbàng。
The monthly rent for a two-bedroom flat would be £
2
格雷丝轻轻敲了敲卧室的门，走了进去。
gé léi sī qīng qīng qiāo le qiāo wòshì de mén， zǒu le jìnqù。
Grace tapped on the bedroom door and went in.
3
詹姆斯从卧室出来，用毛巾擦着他湿漉漉的头发。
zhān mǔ Sī cóng wòshì chūlái， yòng máojīn cā zhe tā shī lù lù de tóufa。
James came out of his bedroom, toweling his wet hair.
4
他仍旧仰卧着，望着天上的云彩。
tā réngjiù yǎng wò zhe， wàng zhe tiānshàng de yún cǎi。
He continued to lie on his back and look at clouds.
