unknown, 8 strokes, radical 口, rank #13324, Very Hard
呣
ḿ
interjection expressing consent
unknown, 8 strokes, radical 口, rank #13324, Very Hard
呣
ḿ
um
unknown, 8 strokes, radical 口, rank #13324, Very Hard
呣
m
interjection or exclamation indicating a question
zg, 8 strokes, radical 口, rank #13324, Very Hard
呣
m
interjection expressing a question
unknown, 8 strokes, radical 口, rank #13324, Very Hard
呣
m
interjection expressing consent
unknown, 8 strokes, radical 口, rank #13324, Very Hard
呣
m
um
unknown, 8 strokes, radical 口, rank #13324, Very Hard
ḿ(m2)
primary
T2
1interjection or exclamation indicating a question
2interjection expressing a question
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
呣ḿ(m2)
The character 呣 (ḿ) is an interjection used to express hesitation, consent, or to indicate a question, similar to 'um' in English. It often appears in conversational contexts, signaling that the speaker is thinking or unsure, or can also indicate agreement or acknowledgment in a casual manner.
Strokes8Radical口Frequency#13324DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the use of interjections like 呣 can reflect a person's thoughtfulness and politeness in conversation, as pausing to think is often seen as a sign of careful consideration rather than rudeness.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person pondering a question, saying 'um' while scratching their head. The character 呣 resembles a person with a thought bubble above their head, pondering what to say next, hence the hesitation or inquiry it represents.
Meanings of 呣
ḿ(m2)
primary
1interjection or exclamation indicating a question
2interjection expressing a question
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 呣
呣Simplified
8Strokes
口Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 呣
Podcast: 呣
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AI Study Notes for 呣
Usage Notes
While 呣 is informal and used in casual conversations, it should be avoided in formal speech or writing. Learners often confuse it with other similar-sounding interjections, so focus on using it in the right context to convey hesitation or agreement.
HSK Study Tips
Though not present in HSK levels, understanding 呣 can enhance conversational skills at any level. It connects well with other informal expressions like 嗯 (ng) and 啊 (a), which are also used in casual conversation.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 呣 in formal settings or written contexts, where it is inappropriate. For example, saying '我想呣这件事情' (I want um this matter) should be corrected to '我想考虑这件事情' (I want to consider this matter).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 呣
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Drill the tone of 呣 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 母 represents the sound.
1The meaning half口 carries the sense.
2The sound half母 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaymouth
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 呣? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 呣?
Decomposition of 呣
IDS Structure⿰口母
呣Full Character
=
口kou3
left
母mu3
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 呣?
How to say interjection or exclamation indicating a question in Chinese
“interjection or exclamation indicating a question” in Chinese is呣ḿ
The character 呣 (ḿ) is an interjection used to express hesitation, consent, or to indicate a question, similar to 'um' in English. It often appears in conversational contexts, signaling that the speaker is thinking or unsure, or can also indicate agreement or acknowledgment in a casual manner.
When to use 呣
While 呣 is informal and used in casual conversations, it should be avoided in formal speech or writing. Learners often confuse it with other similar-sounding interjections, so focus on using it in the right context to convey hesitation or agreement.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 呣 in formal settings or written contexts, where it is inappropriate. For example, saying '我想呣这件事情' (I want um this matter) should be corrected to '我想考虑这件事情' (I want to consider this matter).
Write 呣
呣
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Practice writing 呣 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Word Family of 呣
Words Containing This Character1
呣ḿum
Exercise 1 of 1
Compound Meaning
What does 呣 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 呣
Use 呣 when you want to indicate hesitation or when you're thinking about what to say next.
No, 呣 is an informal expression and should be reserved for casual conversations.
While both express hesitation, 呣 is more about uncertainty or questioning, whereas 嗯 typically indicates agreement or acknowledgment.
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