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唔 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
唔
wú
to hold in the mouth; bite
y, 10 strokes, radical 口, rank #1433, Medium
唔
wú
oh (expression of agreement or surprise)
unknown, 10 strokes, radical 口, rank #1433, Medium
唔
wú
(Cantonese) not
unknown, 10 strokes, radical 口, rank #1433, Medium
wú(wu2)wu T2
1to hold in the mouth; bite
2oh (expression of agreement or surprise)
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March 24, 2026
唔wú(wu2)
The character 唔 (wú) primarily serves as an expression of agreement or surprise, similar to saying 'oh' or 'uh-huh' in English. In Cantonese, it functions as a negation, meaning 'not.' It can also imply holding something in the mouth or biting, showing its versatility in different contexts.
Strokes10Radical口Frequency#1433DifficultyMedium
Cultural note
In Cantonese culture, the expression 唔 is a common conversational filler that indicates acknowledgment or agreement, reflecting the interactive nature of communication. It serves as a way to maintain engagement in discussions.
Memory tip
Imagine a surprised face with a mouth open saying 'Wuu!' when they agree. The character 唔 looks like an open mouth, suggesting the sound it represents. Picture someone biting into a delicious fruit and exclaiming 'Wú!' in delight.
Meanings of 唔
wú(wu2)
1to hold in the mouth; bite
2oh (expression of agreement or surprise)
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 唔 means.
About 唔
唔Simplified
10Strokes
口Radical
语气词yǔqìcímodal particle (mod.part.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 唔
Podcast: 唔
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AI study notes for 唔
Usage Notes
While 唔 is often used informally in conversation, learners should be cautious not to confuse it with 吗 (ma), which forms yes/no questions. In Cantonese, using 唔 correctly in negation is essential, as it can change the meaning of your sentence significantly.
HSK Study Tips
Although 唔 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, understanding its usage in conversational contexts is crucial for achieving fluency. Students should focus on recognizing its role in dialogues, especially in Cantonese-speaking environments.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 唔 with 吗 (ma), mistakenly using it in question forms. For example, saying '你好吗？' (Nǐ hǎo wú?) instead of '你好吗？' (Nǐ hǎo ma?) is incorrect.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 唔
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Example
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唔 = 口 + 吾. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 唔
IDS Structure⿰口吾
唔Full character
=
口kou3
left
吾Wu2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 唔?
How to say to hold in the mouth; bite in Chinese
“to hold in the mouth; bite” in Chinese is唔wú
The character 唔 (wú) primarily serves as an expression of agreement or surprise, similar to saying 'oh' or 'uh-huh' in English. In Cantonese, it functions as a negation, meaning 'not.' It can also imply holding something in the mouth or biting, showing its versatility in different contexts.
When to use 唔
While 唔 is often used informally in conversation, learners should be cautious not to confuse it with 吗 (ma), which forms yes/no questions. In Cantonese, using 唔 correctly in negation is essential, as it can change the meaning of your sentence significantly.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 唔 with 吗 (ma), mistakenly using it in question forms. For example, saying '你好吗？' (Nǐ hǎo wú?) instead of '你好吗？' (Nǐ hǎo ma?) is incorrect.
Write 唔
唔
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Grammar patterns of 唔
唔 functions as a grammatical particle — it carries no standalone meaning but signals a grammatical relationship. Particles attach to specific positions in the sentence (clause-final 吗/吧/呢, post-verbal 了/过/着, post-noun 的) and rarely move. 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 5
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
____，那我就信你吧，亲爱的。
Well, I'll take your word for it then, love.
Example sentences for 唔 (6)
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1
唔，那我就信你吧，亲爱的。
wú， nà wǒ jiù xìn nǐ ba， qīnài de。
Well, I'll take your word for it then, love.
2
" 唔, 思嘉小姐, 让俺家迪尔茜喂媚兰小姐的孩子吧.
" wú, sī Jiā xiǎojiě, ràng ǎn jiā dí ěr qiàn wèi mèi lán xiǎojiě de háizi ba.
" Well, Miss Scarlett, mah Dilcey ten'ter Miss Melly's chile.
3
唔, 刘先生, 我们离题太远了.
wú, liú xiānsheng, wǒmen lí tí tài yuǎn le.
Now, Mr Liu, we have gone too far off the point.
4
我们都没呆太久。我的意思是，气氛并不是——唔，你知道我的意思。
wǒmen dōu méi dāi tài jiǔ。 wǒ de yìsi shì， qìfēn bìng bùshì—— wú， nǐ zhīdào wǒ de yìsi。
None of us stayed long. I mean, the atmosphere wasn't— well, you know what I mean.
5
" 那才丢你三辈子的脸呢 ---- 唔, 再一次请你原谅.
" nà cái diū nǐ sān bèi zi de liǎn ne ---- wú, zài yī cì qǐng nǐ yuánliàng.
" Hell's afire -- Well, I beg your pardon again.
6
" 唔, 艾希礼, 请扶住我, 我害怕极了!
" wú, ài xī lǐ, qǐng fú zhù wǒ, wǒ hàipà jíle!
" Oh, Ashley, hold me. I'm so frightened! "
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Word Family of 唔
Words containing this character1
唔wú(Cantonese) not
Frequently asked questions about 唔
You can use 唔 to show agreement, like saying '唔，好！' (Wú, hǎo!) meaning 'Oh, okay!'.
唔 is primarily a Cantonese expression, but it can be heard in informal Mandarin conversations, though it's less common.
In Cantonese, it means 'not'; in Mandarin, it expresses agreement or surprise.
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