(particle) marker of surprise, sudden realization, reminder
unknown, 12 strokes, radical 口, rank #497, Easy
喔
ō
oh
unknown, 12 strokes, radical 口, rank #497, Easy
喔
wo
onomatopoetic, the sound of crowing or crying
e, 12 strokes, radical 口, rank #497, Easy
喔
wo
I see
unknown, 12 strokes, radical 口, rank #497, Easy
喔
wo
(particle) marker of surprise, sudden realization, reminder
unknown, 12 strokes, radical 口, rank #497, Easy
喔
wo
oh
unknown, 12 strokes, radical 口, rank #497, Easy
ō(o1)
primary
T1
1onomatopoetic, the sound of crowing or crying
2I see
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March 24, 2026
喔ō(o1)
The character 喔 (ō) is an onomatopoetic expression that mimics sounds such as crowing or crying. It is often used as a particle to convey surprise, realization, or acknowledgment in conversation, similar to saying 'oh' in English when one understands something or reacts to new information.
Strokes12Radical口Frequency#497DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, expressing surprise or realization is often accompanied by a change in tone or body language, which can be more pronounced than in some Western cultures. The use of 喔 can reflect a more expressive conversational style.
Memory Tip
Think of the sound you make when you suddenly realize something, like a light bulb moment. The character 喔 looks like a person with their mouth open, exclaiming in surprise or understanding, as if saying 'Oh!' in realization.
Meanings of 喔
ō(o1)
primary
1onomatopoetic, the sound of crowing or crying
2I see
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 喔
喔Simplified
12Strokes
口Radical
叹词tàncíinterjection (interj.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 喔
Podcast: 喔
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AI Study Notes for 喔
Usage Notes
喔 is generally informal and can be used in casual conversations. Be careful not to overuse it in formal writing or speeches. It often collocates with other particles or phrases expressing surprise or understanding, such as '原来' (yuánlái, it turns out).
HSK Study Tips
While 喔 is not specifically listed in HSK levels, it is useful for learners at HSK 2 and 3, where expressions of surprise and acknowledgment are common. Students should focus on contextual usage in dialogues and listening practice to recognize its sound and meaning.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 喔 with 哦 (ó), which has a similar sound but is used to soften statements rather than express surprise. For example, saying '我喔知道' (wǒ ō zhīdào) is incorrect; it should be '我哦知道' (wǒ ó zhīdào) to convey 'Oh, I see.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 喔
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Drill the tone of 喔 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 屋 represents the sound.
1The meaning half口 carries the sense.
2The sound half屋 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 喔? 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 喔?
Decomposition of 喔
IDS Structure⿰口屋
喔Full Character
=
口kou3
left
屋wu1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 喔?
How to say onomatopoetic, the sound of crowing or crying in Chinese
“onomatopoetic, the sound of crowing or crying” in Chinese is喔ō
The character 喔 (ō) is an onomatopoetic expression that mimics sounds such as crowing or crying. It is often used as a particle to convey surprise, realization, or acknowledgment in conversation, similar to saying 'oh' in English when one understands something or reacts to new information.
When to use 喔
喔 is generally informal and can be used in casual conversations. Be careful not to overuse it in formal writing or speeches. It often collocates with other particles or phrases expressing surprise or understanding, such as '原来' (yuánlái, it turns out).
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 喔 with 哦 (ó), which has a similar sound but is used to soften statements rather than express surprise. For example, saying '我喔知道' (wǒ ō zhīdào) is incorrect; it should be '我哦知道' (wǒ ó zhīdào) to convey 'Oh, I see.'
Write 喔
喔
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Practice writing 喔 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 喔
喔 functions as an interjection — a standalone exclamation. It typically opens the sentence (啊！哎呀！) and is set off by a pause or comma. It carries 4 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
Complete the Sentence
____，干得好，大侦探。你全是自己推断出来的吗？
Oh, well done, Sherlock. Did you figure that out all by yourself?
