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嗷 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
嗷áoclamor; the sound of wailingo, 13 strokes, radical 口, rank #6028, Hard
嗷áoloud clamorunknown, 13 strokes, radical 口, rank #6028, Hard
áo(ao2)ao T2
  1. 1clamor; the sound of wailing
  2. 2loud clamor
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March 24, 2026

嗷áo(ao2)

The character 嗷 (áo) refers to a loud, often mournful sound, typically associated with wailing or clamor. It conveys a sense of intense emotion, such as sorrow or lamentation, and is often used in contexts where a loud expression of grief or protest is involved.

Strokes13Radical口Frequency#6028DifficultyHard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, expressions of grief and wailing are often seen during funerals and memorials, where loud lamentation signifies deep respect for the deceased, reflecting the importance of filial piety.

Memory tip

Imagine a wolf howling at the moon, making a loud and mournful sound. The shape of 嗷 resembles a wolf's open mouth, and the 'áo' pronunciation can be remembered by associating it with the loud 'ahhh' of wailing.

Meanings of 嗷

áo(ao2)
1clamor; the sound of wailing
2loud clamor
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 嗷

嗷Simplified
13Strokes
口Radical
拟声词onomatopoeia (onom.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

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Podcast: 嗷

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AI study notes for 嗷

Usage Notes

Commonly used in literary or expressive contexts, 嗷 might not be suitable for everyday conversation. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding characters; for example, the tone must remain level to maintain its meaning. Collocations include phrases expressing lament or clamor.

HSK Study Tips

While 嗷 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to other expressive sound-related characters. Students should focus on tone pronunciation and the emotional context of usage to better understand its application in literature.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 嗷 with similar characters that express different sounds or emotions, such as 哀 (āi), which means sorrow. For instance, saying '我很嗷' (Wǒ hěn áo) is incorrect; it should be used in a context focused on sound, e.g., '他在嗷叫' (Tā zài áo jiào) meaning 'He is wailing loudly.'

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 嗷

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Etymology of 嗷

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 敖 represents the sound.

Memory hint

mouth

Semantic (meaning)口
+
Phonetic (sound)敖
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

嗷 = 口 + 敖. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 嗷

IDS Structure⿰口敖
嗷Full character
=
口kou3
left
敖Ao2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 嗷?

How to say clamor; the sound of wailing in Chinese

“clamor; the sound of wailing” in Chinese is嗷áo

The character 嗷 (áo) refers to a loud, often mournful sound, typically associated with wailing or clamor. It conveys a sense of intense emotion, such as sorrow or lamentation, and is often used in contexts where a loud expression of grief or protest is involved.

When to use 嗷

Commonly used in literary or expressive contexts, 嗷 might not be suitable for everyday conversation. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding characters; for example, the tone must remain level to maintain its meaning. Collocations include phrases expressing lament or clamor.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 嗷 with similar characters that express different sounds or emotions, such as 哀 (āi), which means sorrow. For instance, saying '我很嗷' (Wǒ hěn áo) is incorrect; it should be used in a context focused on sound, e.g., '他在嗷叫' (Tā zài áo jiào) meaning 'He is wailing loudly.'

Write 嗷

嗷

Practice writing 嗷 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar patterns of 嗷

嗷 functions as an onomatopoeic word — it imitates a sound. It often functions as an adverbial or stand-alone exclamation rather than a true verb or noun. It carries 2 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 2

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

那头猪突然____嗷叫着狂奔起来。

The pig rose squealing and bolted.

Example sentences for 嗷 (2)

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1
那头猪突然嗷嗷叫着狂奔起来。

nà tóu zhū tūrán áo áo jiào zhe kuáng bèn qǐlái。

The pig rose squealing and bolted.
2
牲口棚里的牲口饿得朝她嗷嗷叫.

shēng kǒu péng lǐ de shēng kǒu è de cháo tā áo áo jiào.

The stock in the barn cried to her hungrily.

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Word Family of 嗷

Words containing this character2
嗷áoloud clamor
嗷嗷待哺áo’áodàibǔcry piteously for food
Exercise 1 of 1

Words with 嗷

What does 嗷嗷待哺 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 嗷

It's more appropriate for literary contexts or when discussing emotions, rather than in casual conversation.

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