unknown, 10 strokes, radical 口, rank #1433, Medium
唔
wú
(Cantonese) not
unknown, 10 strokes, radical 口, rank #1433, Medium
wú(wu2) 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
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
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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Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 吾 represents the sound.
1The meaning half口 carries the sense.
2The sound half吾 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 唔? 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 唔?
Decomposition of 唔
IDS Structure⿰口吾
唔Full Character
=
口kou3
left
吾Wu2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component 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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Practice writing 唔 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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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.
