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呜 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
呜
wū
the sound of someone crying or sobbing
o, 7 strokes, radical 口, rank #4608, Hard
呜
wū
(onom.) for humming or whimpering
unknown, 7 strokes, radical 口, rank #4608, Hard
wū(wu1)wu T1
1the sound of someone crying or sobbing
2(onom.) for humming or whimpering
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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
By ear
Play it, then pick what 呜 means.
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
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.
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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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 呜 is seven skills, not one.
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呜 = 口 + 乌. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 呜
IDS Structure⿰口乌
呜Full character
=
口kou3
left
乌Wu1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 呜?
How to say the sound of someone crying or sobbing in Chinese
“the sound of someone crying or sobbing” in Chinese is呜wū
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.
When to use 呜
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.
What learners get wrong
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.
Write 呜
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
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
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。
yuǎnyuǎn dì néng tīngdào fēng dí de wūyè。
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 lóutī de bù， tòng de wūyè zhe。
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 kōngqì chuī de dàjiē shàng de gé zhà wū wū zuō 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 wūyè zhe shuō le xiē shénme， tīng bù qīng。
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 gāoxìng shí huì miāo miāo jiào， gāoxìng shí huì fāchū wū wū shēng。
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。
wàimiàn de huāyuán lǐ tūrán yǒu yī zhī māo tóu yīng wū wū dì jiào qǐlái。
Out in the garden an owl hooted suddenly.
7
轮船上的汽笛呜呜叫.
lúnchuán 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 wūyè zhe shuō：“ yíqiè dōushì wǒ de cuò。”
"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.
sāngè yuè hòu, nà yī tuán yù fā fán mào de lǜ mán lǐbian, fāchū yī zhǒng jiān yòu jiāo nèn de wū jiào.
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 zhuǎi le zhuǎnyǎn jīng， wūyè qǐlái。
His eyes rolled and he sobbed.
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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
Words with 呜
What does 呜呜 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.
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