Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
挖wā(wa1)
The character 挖 (wā) means 'to dig' or 'to excavate.' It is commonly used in contexts relating to physical digging, such as in construction or gardening, as well as metaphorically for exploring or uncovering information. The nuance often implies a deliberate action to remove or uncover something from a surface.
Strokes9Radical扌Frequency#1591DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, digging can symbolize the effort of uncovering truth or potential, often associated with agricultural practices. This reflects the importance of farming and land cultivation in Chinese history.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person with a shovel (the radical 扌, meaning hand) digging into the ground and uncovering treasures. The sound 'wā' can be remembered as a joyful exclamation when they find something valuable, making it easier to connect the action of digging with the character.
Meanings of 挖
wā(wa1)
1to dig
2to excavate
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 挖 means.
About 挖
挖Simplified
9Strokes
扌Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#1591Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 挖
Podcast: 挖
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 挖
Quick Contrast
挖 (wā) vs 掘 (jué) — use 挖 when referring to physical digging, while 掘 is often used for deeper excavation or mining.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 挖 with other similar verbs like '挖掘' (wājue) which means 'to excavate' in a more formal context. This word is informal and often used in everyday conversations, especially in practical situations like gardening or construction. The fourth tone should be pronounced clearly to avoid confusion with other similar-sounding words.
HSK Study Tips
Although 挖 is not in the official HSK vocabulary lists, it relates well to other action verbs at HSK 2 and 3 levels, such as '买' (mǎi, to buy) and '卖' (mài, to sell). Students should focus on the context in which they can use 挖 and practice its application in sentences.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mix up 挖 with '挖掘' (wājue) when they want to convey the action of digging in a formal context. Instead, use 挖 for casual situations and reserve 挖掘 for more serious discussions or contexts.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 挖
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 挖 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 挖 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.
How Well Do You Know 挖?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 挖 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.
The character 挖 (wā) means 'to dig' or 'to excavate.' It is commonly used in contexts relating to physical digging, such as in construction or gardening, as well as metaphorically for exploring or uncovering information. The nuance often implies a deliberate action to remove or uncover something from a surface.
When to use 挖
Be careful not to confuse 挖 with other similar verbs like '挖掘' (wājue) which means 'to excavate' in a more formal context. This word is informal and often used in everyday conversations, especially in practical situations like gardening or construction. The fourth tone should be pronounced clearly to avoid confusion with other similar-sounding words.
挖 or something close to it
挖 (wā) vs 掘 (jué) — use 挖 when referring to physical digging, while 掘 is often used for deeper excavation or mining.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mix up 挖 with '挖掘' (wājue) when they want to convey the action of digging in a formal context. Instead, use 挖 for casual situations and reserve 挖掘 for more serious discussions or contexts.
Write 挖
挖
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 挖 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 挖
挖 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 3 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.
