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March 24, 2026
呜(嗚)wū(wu1)
The character 呜 (wū) represents the sound of crying, sobbing, or whimpering. It is often used in literary contexts to convey emotion or the sound of distress, making it a useful onomatopoeic expression in writing.
Strokes7Radical口Frequency#4608DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, expressing emotions through sounds like 呜 is prevalent in literature and art, reflecting the importance of emotional expression in storytelling.
Memory Tip
Imagine a child who is crying out 'wū' while holding onto a teddy bear. The character 呜 looks like a person with arms raised in distress, which connects to its meaning of crying or sobbing.
Meanings of 呜
wū(wu1)
1the sound of someone crying or sobbing
2(onom.) for humming or whimpering
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 呜
呜Simplified
嗚Traditional
7Strokes
口Radical
拟声词onomatopoeia (onom.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 呜
Podcast: 呜
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AI Study Notes for 呜
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a child who is crying out 'wū' while holding onto a teddy bear. The character 呜 looks like a person with arms raised in distress, which connects to its meaning of crying or sobbing.
Usage Notes
This character is informal and primarily used in emotional contexts. Common mistakes include using it in formal writing, where it may seem out of place. Make sure to use the correct tone, as the first tone (wū) conveys the intended meaning.
HSK Study Tips
While 呜 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it can be connected to Level 1 words that express emotions, such as 哭 (kū, to cry). Focus on pronunciation and recognizing it in emotional expressions in texts.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, expressing emotions through sounds like 呜 is prevalent in literature and art, reflecting the importance of emotional expression in storytelling.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 呜 with other similar-sounding characters like 吼 (hǒu, to roar). Remember that 呜 specifically relates to crying or sobbing, while 吼 refers to a much louder, aggressive sound.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 呜
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Grammar Patterns of 呜
呜 functions as an onomatopoeic word — it imitates a sound. It often functions as an adverbial or stand-alone exclamation rather than a true verb or noun. 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
Complete the Sentence
远远地能听到风笛的____咽。
The wail of the bagpipe could be heard in the distance.
Example Sentences for 呜 (10)
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1
远远地能听到风笛的呜咽。
yuǎn yuǎn dì néng tīng dào fēng dí de wū yān。
The wail of the bagpipe could be heard in the distance.
2
她躺在楼梯底部，痛得呜咽着。
tā tǎng zài lóu tī dǐ bù， ， tòng dé wū yān。
She lay at the bottom of the stairs, whimpering in pain.
3
冷空气吹得大街上的格栅呜呜作响。
lěng kōng qì chuī dé dà jiē shàng de gé zhà wū wū zuò xiǎng。
Cool air whooshes up through the grates on the street.
4
她呜咽着说了些什么，听不清。
tā wū yān zháo shuō le xiē shí mó， ， tīng bù。
She whimpered something inaudible.
5
猫不高兴时会喵喵叫，高兴时会发出呜呜声。
māo bù gāo xīng shí huì miāo miāo jiào， ， gāo xīng shí huì fā chū wū wū。
Cats miaow when they are unhappy, purr when they are happy.
6
外面的花园里突然有一只猫头鹰呜呜地叫起来。
wài miàn de huā yuán lǐ tū rán yǒu yī zhī māo tóu yīng wū wū dì jiào qǐ lái。
Out in the garden an owl hooted suddenly.
7
轮船上的汽笛呜呜叫.
lún chuán shàng de qì dí wū wū jiào.
The ship's whistle kept hooting.
8
她呜咽着说：“一切都是我的错。”
tā wū yān zháo shuō：“ ：“ yī qiē dū shì wǒ de。”
"Everything's my fault," she sobbed.
9
三个月后,那一团愈发繁茂的绿蔓里边,发出一种尖又娇嫩的呜叫.
sān gè yuè hòu, , nà yī tuán yù fā fán mào de lǜ màn lǐ, biān , fā chū yī zhǒng jiān yòu jiāo nèn de.
Three months later I heard a sharp yet delicate peep from behind the lush leaves.
10
他转了转眼睛，呜咽起来。
tā zhuǎn le zhuǎn yǎn jīng， ， wū yān qǐ。
His eyes rolled and he sobbed.
Cultural Notes for 呜
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, expressing emotions through sounds like 呜 is prevalent in literature and art, reflecting the importance of emotional expression in storytelling.
Word Family of 呜
Words Containing This Character6
呜wū(onom.) for humming or whimpering嗚
呜呜(interj) boo hoo嗚嗚
呜呼alas嗚呼
呜咽wūyèto sob嗚咽
一命呜呼to die (idiom)一命嗚呼
呜呼哀哉alas嗚呼哀哉
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 呜 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 呜
No, 呜 is more commonly found in written contexts or as part of expressive writing, rather than in everyday spoken language.
While it primarily denotes crying, it can also represent other whimpering or humming sounds, but context is key.
