a goddess, the mythological sister and successor to Fuxi
x, 10 strokes, radical 女, Very Hard
娲
wā
surname Wa
unknown, 10 strokes, radical 女, Very Hard
娲
wā
sister of legendary emperor Fu Xi 伏羲
unknown, 10 strokes, radical 女, Very Hard
wā(Wa1) T1
1a goddess, the mythological sister and successor to Fuxi
2sister of legendary emperor Fu Xi 伏羲
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March 24, 2026
娲(媧)wā(Wa1)
The character 娲 (wā) refers to a goddess in Chinese mythology, known as the sister and successor of Fuxi, a legendary figure associated with the creation of humanity and the invention of various cultural practices. In stories, she is often depicted as a nurturing figure, playing an essential role in the development of civilization.
Strokes10Radical女Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, 娲 is celebrated during festivals and is a symbol of women's power and creativity, reflecting the historical reverence for female deities who contributed to societal development.
Memory Tip
Imagine a goddess (娲) weaving a tapestry of life, with her flowing hair (女) symbolizing femininity and creativity. The pronunciation 'wā' sounds like 'wah,' as if you are in awe of her majestic presence.
Meanings of 娲
wā(Wa1)
1a goddess, the mythological sister and successor to Fuxi
2sister of legendary emperor Fu Xi 伏羲
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 娲
娲Simplified
媧Traditional
10Strokes
女Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 娲
Podcast: 娲
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AI Study Notes for 娲
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a goddess (娲) weaving a tapestry of life, with her flowing hair (女) symbolizing femininity and creativity. The pronunciation 'wā' sounds like 'wah,' as if you are in awe of her majestic presence.
Usage Notes
While 娲 is primarily used in mythological contexts, it can also serve as a surname. Learners should be cautious with pronunciation, ensuring they use the correct tone to avoid confusion with other characters. The character is not commonly used in everyday conversation.
HSK Study Tips
Though 娲 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects to cultural elements that may appear in advanced studies. Focus on understanding the mythological context and its relation to other characters like 伏 (fú) for Fuxi.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, 娲 is celebrated during festivals and is a symbol of women's power and creativity, reflecting the historical reverence for female deities who contributed to societal development.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 娲 with other similar characters like 娃 (wā, doll) due to their visual similarity. Remember, 娲 refers specifically to the goddess, while 娃 pertains to a doll or child.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 娲
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Cultural Notes for 娲
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, 娲 is celebrated during festivals and is a symbol of women's power and creativity, reflecting the historical reverence for female deities who contributed to societal development.
Word Family of 娲
Words Containing This Character3
女娲Nüwa (creator of humans in Chinese mythology)女媧
娲wāsurname Wa媧
女娲氏Nüwa (creator of humans in Chinese mythology)女媧氏
Exercise 1 of 3
Compound Meaning
What does 女娲 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 娲
娲 represents a goddess who is a creation figure and the sister of Fuxi, linked to the origins of humanity.
Yes, 娲 can also be used as a surname in China, though it is rare.
The correct pronunciation is 'wā' with the first tone, which is a high and level tone.