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瓯 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
瓯ōubowl, cup; small trayns, 8 strokes, radical 瓦, rank #44783, Very Hard
瓯ōuold name for Wenzhou City 溫州市|温州市[Wen1 zhou1 shi4] in Zhejiang 浙江[Zhe4 jiang1]unknown, 8 strokes, radical 瓦, rank #44783, Very Hard
ōu(Ou1)ou T1
  1. 1bowl, cup; small tray
  2. 2old name for Wenzhou City 溫州市|温州市[Wen1 zhou1 shi4] in Zhejiang 浙江[Zhe4 jiang1]
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March 24, 2026

瓯(甌)ōu(Ou1)

The character 瓯 (ōu) primarily refers to a type of bowl or cup, often used for holding liquids or food. It can also denote a small tray. In historical contexts, 瓯 was an old name for Wenzhou City in Zhejiang province, which reflects its significance in local culture and trade.

Strokes8Radical瓦Frequency#44783DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, traditional pottery and ceramic bowls are highly valued, especially in tea culture. The term 瓯 connects to historical practices of tea drinking, where specific bowls were used to serve tea.

Memory tip

Imagine a large, round bowl (瓯) filled with water, floating on the waves of the ocean (ōu). The round shape can remind you of the bowl, while the sound 'ōu' mimics the gentle rolling of ocean waves, making the character memorable.

Meanings of 瓯

ōu(Ou1)
1bowl, cup; small tray
2old name for Wenzhou City 溫州市|温州市[Wen1 zhou1 shi4] in Zhejiang 浙江[Zhe4 jiang1]
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 瓯 means.

About 瓯

瓯Simplified
甌Traditional
8Strokes
瓦Radical
地名míngcíplace name (p.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 瓯

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Podcast: 瓯

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AI study notes for 瓯

Usage Notes

When using 瓯, it's important to know that it is more commonly used in literary or formal contexts rather than in everyday conversation. Learners often confuse it with the more general word for bowl, 碗 (wǎn). Be mindful of using it in appropriate contexts.

HSK Study Tips

Although 瓯 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it relates to the study of everyday objects and food-related terms. Students should focus on differentiating between various types of containers in Mandarin, like 碗 (wǎn) for bowl and 杯 (bēi) for cup.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 瓯 with other similar characters like 碗 (wǎn) or 杯 (bēi), leading to misuse in context. For example, saying '我想要一个瓯' (wǒ xiǎng yào yī gè ōu) when referring to a bowl of rice instead of using 碗 would be incorrect.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 瓯

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Etymology of 瓯

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

pottery

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

Origin

瓯 = 瓦 + 区. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 瓯

IDS Structure⿰区瓦
瓯Full character
=
区Ou1
left
瓦wa3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 瓯?

How to say bowl, cup; small tray in Chinese

“bowl, cup; small tray” in Chinese is瓯ōu

The character 瓯 (ōu) primarily refers to a type of bowl or cup, often used for holding liquids or food. It can also denote a small tray. In historical contexts, 瓯 was an old name for Wenzhou City in Zhejiang province, which reflects its significance in local culture and trade.

When to use 瓯

When using 瓯, it's important to know that it is more commonly used in literary or formal contexts rather than in everyday conversation. Learners often confuse it with the more general word for bowl, 碗 (wǎn). Be mindful of using it in appropriate contexts.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 瓯 with other similar characters like 碗 (wǎn) or 杯 (bēi), leading to misuse in context. For example, saying '我想要一个瓯' (wǒ xiǎng yào yī gè ōu) when referring to a bowl of rice instead of using 碗 would be incorrect.

Write 瓯

瓯

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

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Grammar patterns of 瓯

瓯 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 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.

接下来呢, 我们要去看看温州的____绣.

Next, we're going to take a look at Ou Embroidery.

Example sentences for 瓯 (2)

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1
接下来呢, 我们要去看看温州的瓯绣.

jiēxiàlái ne, wǒmen yào qù kàn kàn Wēn zhōu de ōu xiù.

Next, we're going to take a look at Ou Embroidery.
2
听韩佳说,瓯绣是温州的一项传统工艺.

tīng hán jiā shuō, ōu xiù shì Wēn zhōu de yī xiàng chuántǒng gōngyì.

I heard from Han Jia Ou Embroidery is a traditional craft.

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Word Family of 瓯

Words containing this character5
瓯ōuold name for Wenzhou City 溫州市|温州市[Wēn​zhōu​shì] in Zhejiang 浙江[Zhè​jiāng]甌
金瓯Ca Mau, Vietnam金甌
建瓯Jian'ou county level city in Nanping 南平[Nán​píng] Fujian建甌
建瓯市Jian'ou county level city in Nanping 南平[Nán​píng] Fujian建甌市
瓯海区Ouhai district of Wenzhou city 溫州市|温州市[Wēn​zhōu​shì], Zhejiang甌海區
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 瓯

What does 金瓯 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 瓯

While both refer to types of containers, 瓯 specifically denotes a bowl or cup often used in a more ceremonial context, while 碗 refers to a general bowl used for food.

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