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March 24, 2026
嗚wū(wu1)
The character 嗚 (wū) represents the sound of sobbing or crying, often used to express grief or sadness. It captures an emotional vocalization rather than a specific action, and is commonly found in literary contexts or emotional dialogues.
Strokes13Radical口Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, expressions of sorrow, such as crying, are often seen in literature and traditional arts, reflecting the deep emotional connections within familial and social relationships. 嗚 can evoke the shared experience of loss or sadness in storytelling.
Memory Tip
Imagine a child who has lost their favorite toy, letting out a long, drawn-out 'wū' as they cry. The character 嗚 looks like a person with their mouth open, creating the sound of crying, which helps you remember both the meaning and pronunciation.
Meanings of 嗚
wū(wu1)
1the sound of someone crying or sobbing
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 嗚
嗚Simplified
13Strokes
口Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 嗚
Podcast: 嗚
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AI Study Notes for 嗚
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a child who has lost their favorite toy, letting out a long, drawn-out 'wū' as they cry. The character 嗚 looks like a person with their mouth open, creating the sound of crying, which helps you remember both the meaning and pronunciation.
Usage Notes
Be cautious using 嗚 in formal contexts, as it is more suitable for informal or emotional expressions. It may also appear in poetry or songs rather than everyday conversation. A common mistake is confusing it with 哀 (āi), which refers to mourning more generally; 嗚 is specifically about the sound of crying.
HSK Study Tips
Although 嗚 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it shares emotional connotations with other level-appropriate words like 哭 (kū), meaning 'to cry.' Focus on recognizing how these words can enhance emotional expression in Mandarin.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, expressions of sorrow, such as crying, are often seen in literature and traditional arts, reflecting the deep emotional connections within familial and social relationships. 嗚 can evoke the shared experience of loss or sadness in storytelling.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 嗚 with similar-sounding characters like 呜 (wū), which also represents a sound but is used more broadly. Remember, 嗚 specifically conveys the sound of crying.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 嗚
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Cultural Notes for 嗚
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, expressions of sorrow, such as crying, are often seen in literature and traditional arts, reflecting the deep emotional connections within familial and social relationships. 嗚 can evoke the shared experience of loss or sadness in storytelling.
Word Family of 嗚
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
Compound Meaning
What does 呜 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 嗚
No, it's more common in emotional contexts such as literature or poetry.
No, 嗚 specifically denotes crying or sobbing, not joy.
哭 refers to the act of crying, while 嗚 focuses on the sound of crying.
