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March 24, 2026
甌ōu(ou1)
The character 甌 (ōu) refers to a bowl or cup, often used to denote a small tray or dish. It is commonly used in contexts involving food or serving, highlighting its functional role in daily life as a vessel for holding items.
Strokes15Radical瓦Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, serving food in small bowls or trays is a common practice during meals, reflecting the importance of communal dining and sharing dishes among family and friends.
Memory Tip
Imagine a grand banquet where everyone is served soup in elegant bowls. The character 甌 resembles a bowl with its rounded shape, and the 'ōu' sound can be recalled by envisioning someone saying 'Oh!' as they admire the beautiful bowls on the table.
Meanings of 甌
ōu(ou1)
1bowl, cup; small tray
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 甌
甌Simplified
15Strokes
瓦Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 甌
Podcast: 甌
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AI Study Notes for 甌
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a grand banquet where everyone is served soup in elegant bowls. The character 甌 resembles a bowl with its rounded shape, and the 'ōu' sound can be recalled by envisioning someone saying 'Oh!' as they admire the beautiful bowls on the table.
Usage Notes
While 甌 is not as commonly used in everyday conversation, it may appear in formal contexts or literature. Be careful not to confuse it with similar characters like 碗 (wǎn), which specifically means 'bowl.'
HSK Study Tips
Although 甌 is not included in the HSK vocabulary, learners should focus on recognizing its components and related words like 碗 (bowl) and 杯 (cup) to build their vocabulary around dining and kitchen items.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, serving food in small bowls or trays is a common practice during meals, reflecting the importance of communal dining and sharing dishes among family and friends.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 甌 with 碗 (wǎn) due to their similar meanings. A common error is saying '我有一个甌' (wǒ yǒu yīgè ōu) when referring to a bowl of rice; the correct term should be '碗'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 甌
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Cultural Notes for 甌
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, serving food in small bowls or trays is a common practice during meals, reflecting the importance of communal dining and sharing dishes among family and friends.
Word Family of 甌
Words Containing This Character5
瓯ōuold name for Wenzhou City 溫州市|温州市[Wēnzhōushì] in Zhejiang 浙江[Zhèjiāng]甌
金瓯Ca Mau, Vietnam金甌
建瓯Jian'ou county level city in Nanping 南平[Nánpíng] Fujian建甌
建瓯市Jian'ou county level city in Nanping 南平[Nánpíng] Fujian建甌市
瓯海区Ouhai district of Wenzhou city 溫州市|温州市[Wēnzhōushì], Zhejiang甌海區
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 瓯 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 甌
No, it is more often found in literary contexts or specific discussions about utensils.
甌 refers to a small tray or bowl, while 碗 specifically means 'bowl' and is more commonly used for soup or rice.
