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March 24, 2026
汪wāng(Wang1)
汪 (wāng) primarily means vast or deep, often referring to bodies of water. It is also a common surname in China, pronounced as 'Wang'. In some contexts, it conveys the sound of a dog barking, reflecting its onomatopoeic nature, and can act as a classifier for liquids like pools or puddles.
Strokes7Radical氵Frequency#12351DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
The surname 汪 is quite common in China and has historical significance, with notable figures in Chinese history bearing this name. Additionally, water plays a crucial role in Chinese culture, symbolizing life and abundance.
Memory Tip
Imagine a deep, vast ocean (the meaning of 汪) where a dog barks at the waves (the sound association). The character 汪 resembles a flowing river, which helps you remember its connection to water and depth, while the 'w' in 'Wang' can remind you of water.
Meanings of 汪
wāng(Wang1)
1vast, extensive, deep; surname
2ooze
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 汪
汪Simplified
7Strokes
氵Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 汪
Podcast: 汪
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AI Study Notes for 汪
Usage Notes
汪 is often used in literary or poetic contexts to describe deep waters or emotions. Learners should distinguish it from other similar-sounding words, paying attention to the tone, as mispronouncing it can lead to misunderstandings. It is less common in everyday conversation but appears in written Chinese.
HSK Study Tips
汪 is not included in the HSK levels but can be relevant for learners at a higher level who are exploring surnames and descriptive vocabulary. Students should practice both its meanings and its pronunciation, especially with tones.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 汪 with other similar-sounding characters, such as 王 (wáng), which means 'king'. For example, saying '我叫汪' (Wǒ jiào Wāng) incorrectly for 'I am Wang' when it should be '我叫王'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 汪
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Drill the tone of 汪 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 王 represents the sound.
1The meaning half氵 carries the sense.
2The sound half王 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaywater
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 汪? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 汪?
Decomposition of 汪
IDS Structure⿰氵王
汪Full Character
=
氵shui3
left
王Wang2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 汪?
How to say surname Wang in Chinese
“surname Wang” in Chinese is汪wāng
汪 (wāng) primarily means vast or deep, often referring to bodies of water. It is also a common surname in China, pronounced as 'Wang'. In some contexts, it conveys the sound of a dog barking, reflecting its onomatopoeic nature, and can act as a classifier for liquids like pools or puddles.
When to use 汪
汪 is often used in literary or poetic contexts to describe deep waters or emotions. Learners should distinguish it from other similar-sounding words, paying attention to the tone, as mispronouncing it can lead to misunderstandings. It is less common in everyday conversation but appears in written Chinese.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 汪 with other similar-sounding characters, such as 王 (wáng), which means 'king'. For example, saying '我叫汪' (Wǒ jiào Wāng) incorrectly for 'I am Wang' when it should be '我叫王'.
Write 汪
汪
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Practice writing 汪 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 汪
汪 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). 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 5
Complete the Sentence
她的狗____地叫了一声，紧跟了上来。
Her dog yelped and came to heel.
Example Sentences for 汪 (9)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
她的狗汪地叫了一声，紧跟了上来。
tā de gǒu wāng dì jiào le yī shēng， ， jǐn gēn le shàng。
