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March 24, 2026
误(誤)wù(wu4)
The character 误 (wù) primarily means 'mistake' or 'error.' It can also imply causing harm, delaying, or neglecting something. This character is commonly used in contexts where something has gone wrong or when one is discussing faults or errors in judgment.
Strokes9Radical讠Frequency#5001DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, making a mistake can carry a significant social stigma, especially in formal settings. The concept of 误 is often tied to the importance of maintaining face and avoiding errors that could lead to loss of reputation.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person missing a target (the character 误) because they were distracted. The left side of the character resembles a person (亻) and the right side can symbolize a misstep or error (误). Visualize this person saying 'oops!' as they realize their mistake.
Meanings of 误
wù(wu4)
1mistake
2error
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 误
误Simplified
誤Traditional
9Strokes
讠Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#5001Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 误
Podcast: 误
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AI Study Notes for 误
Quick Contrast
错误 (cuòwù) vs 失误 (shīwù) — use 误 (wù) for a more general sense of mistake, while 错误 (cuòwù) emphasizes the wrongness of something, and 失误 (shīwù) often refers to a blunder or oversight.
Usage Notes
Be careful with the tone when pronouncing 误, as it is a fourth tone. This character can often be combined with others to form phrases like '错误' (cuòwù, meaning 'error'). It's typically used in both formal and informal contexts, but be mindful of word choice to match the situation.
HSK Study Tips
Although 误 is not at a specific HSK level, it connects well with other error-related vocabulary such as '错' (cuò, wrong) and '错误' (cuòwù, mistake). Focus on using it in sentences to express regret or apology.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 误 with 错 and use them interchangeably, but 误 carries a nuance of harm or neglect. For example, saying '我错了' (Wǒ cuòle, I was wrong) is more straightforward, while '我误了' (Wǒ wùle) may imply a more severe misunderstanding. Use them appropriately based on context.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 误
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Simplified form of 誤. Phonosemantic compound. 言 represents the meaning and 吳 represents the sound.
1The meaning half讠 carries the sense.
2The sound half吴 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayspeech
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 误? 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 误?
Decomposition of 误
IDS Structure⿰讠吴
误Full Character
=
讠yan2
left
吴Wu2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 误?
How to say mistake in Chinese
“mistake” in Chinese is误wù
The character 误 (wù) primarily means 'mistake' or 'error.' It can also imply causing harm, delaying, or neglecting something. This character is commonly used in contexts where something has gone wrong or when one is discussing faults or errors in judgment.
When to use 误
Be careful with the tone when pronouncing 误, as it is a fourth tone. This character can often be combined with others to form phrases like '错误' (cuòwù, meaning 'error'). It's typically used in both formal and informal contexts, but be mindful of word choice to match the situation.
误 or something close to it
错误 (cuòwù) vs 失误 (shīwù) — use 误 (wù) for a more general sense of mistake, while 错误 (cuòwù) emphasizes the wrongness of something, and 失误 (shīwù) often refers to a blunder or oversight.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 误 with 错 and use them interchangeably, but 误 carries a nuance of harm or neglect. For example, saying '我错了' (Wǒ cuòle, I was wrong) is more straightforward, while '我误了' (Wǒ wùle) may imply a more severe misunderstanding. Use them appropriately based on context.
Write 误
误
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Grammar Patterns of 误
误 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 8 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.
Common phrases with 误 include '误会' (wùhuì), meaning 'misunderstanding,' and '误导' (wùdǎo), meaning 'to mislead.' These phrases are often used in everyday conversations when discussing errors or misunderstandings.
误 is pronounced as 'wù' in Mandarin, with a falling tone. This pronunciation is crucial as it distinguishes the character from others that may have similar spellings but different meanings.
误 (wù) means 'mistake' or 'error' in Chinese. It can also imply missing something, harming someone, delaying a task, or neglecting duties. This character captures various nuances of errors and their consequences in different contexts.
You can use 误 in a sentence like '我误了时间' (Wǒ wùle shíjiān), which means 'I miscalculated the time.' It can also be used in phrases like '误解' (wùjiě), meaning 'misunderstanding.' Understanding its usage can help convey mistakes clearly in conversation.
You can say '我误解了他的意思' (Wǒ wùjiěle tā de yìsi), which means 'I misunderstood his meaning.'
While both mean 'mistake,' 误 often implies a deeper level of harm or misunderstanding, while 错 simply denotes something being wrong.
Generally, 误 has negative connotations, but it can be used in a reflective context to discuss learning from mistakes.
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