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March 24, 2026
妄wàng(wang4)
The character 妄 (wàng) refers to actions or thoughts that are considered absurd, rash, or presumptuous. It is commonly used to describe behavior that is reckless or based on unrealistic expectations. In contexts where caution or reason is expected, using 妄 can emphasize the foolishness of someone's actions or beliefs.
Strokes6Radical女Frequency#10623DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese literature and philosophy, 妄 often appears in discussions about the dangers of unrealistic thinking and the importance of prudence. This reflects a cultural value placed on wisdom and caution in decision-making.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person (the character's components) making a wild and absurd claim, like saying they can fly by simply wishing it. The top part resembles a woman's radical (女), suggesting that this 'fantastic' idea is as unrealistic as a fairy tale told by a woman. Tie the sound 'wàng' to 'wonders' that are not grounded in reality.
Meanings of 妄
wàng(wang4)
1absurd
2fantastic
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 妄 means.
About 妄
妄Simplified
6Strokes
女Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#10623Frequency Rank
Podcast: 妄
Podcast: 妄
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AI Study Notes for 妄
Quick Contrast
妄 (wàng) vs 荒 (huāng) — use 妄 for absurd or rash actions, while 荒 refers to something wild or desolate.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to use 妄 in overly formal contexts as it may sound harsh or critical. It often collocates with words like 妄想 (wàngxiǎng, 'fantasy') and 妄为 (wàngwéi, 'act recklessly'). Remember to use the third tone (wàng) to avoid confusion with other similar-sounding words.
HSK Study Tips
While 妄 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it relates to other level-appropriate words that express thoughts and actions, such as 想 (xiǎng, 'think') and 乱 (luàn, 'chaotic'). Focus on understanding how 妄 can amplify the meaning of these words in sentences.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 妄 with similar-sounding characters like 忘 (wàng, 'forget'). For example, saying '我妄了' (wǒ wàngle) to mean 'I forgot' is incorrect; the correct form would be '我忘了' (wǒ wàngle).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 妄
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How Well Do You Know 妄?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 妄 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
妄 = 女 + 亡. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 妄
IDS Structure⿱亡女
妄Full Character
=
亡wang2
top
女nü3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 妄?
How to say absurd in Chinese
“absurd” in Chinese is妄wàng
The character 妄 (wàng) refers to actions or thoughts that are considered absurd, rash, or presumptuous. It is commonly used to describe behavior that is reckless or based on unrealistic expectations. In contexts where caution or reason is expected, using 妄 can emphasize the foolishness of someone's actions or beliefs.
When to use 妄
Be careful not to use 妄 in overly formal contexts as it may sound harsh or critical. It often collocates with words like 妄想 (wàngxiǎng, 'fantasy') and 妄为 (wàngwéi, 'act recklessly'). Remember to use the third tone (wàng) to avoid confusion with other similar-sounding words.
妄 or something close to it
妄 (wàng) vs 荒 (huāng) — use 妄 for absurd or rash actions, while 荒 refers to something wild or desolate.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 妄 with similar-sounding characters like 忘 (wàng, 'forget'). For example, saying '我妄了' (wǒ wàngle) to mean 'I forgot' is incorrect; the correct form would be '我忘了' (wǒ wàngle).
Write 妄
妄
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Practice writing 妄 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 妄
妄 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 5 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 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
勃朗宁的预测不过是____加猜测而已。
Browning's prediction is no better than a wild guess.
Example Sentences for 妄 (15)
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1
勃朗宁的预测不过是妄加猜测而已。
bó lǎng níng de yù cè bù guò shì wàng jiā cāi cè ér yǐ。
Browning's prediction is no better than a wild guess.
