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窝 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
窝
wō
nest
HSK 7, v, 12 strokes, radical 穴, rank #4465, Very Hard
窝
wō
pit or hollow on the human body
HSK 7, v, 12 strokes, radical 穴, rank #4465, Very Hard
窝
wō
lair
HSK 7, v, 12 strokes, radical 穴, rank #4465, Very Hard
窝
wō
den
HSK 7, v, 12 strokes, radical 穴, rank #4465, Very Hard
窝
wō
place
HSK 7, v, 12 strokes, radical 穴, rank #4465, Very Hard
窝
wō
to harbor or shelter
HSK 7, v, 12 strokes, radical 穴, rank #4465, Very Hard
窝
wō
to hold in check
HSK 7, v, 12 strokes, radical 穴, rank #4465, Very Hard
窝
wō
to bend
HSK 7, v, 12 strokes, radical 穴, rank #4465, Very Hard
窝
wō
classifier for litters and broods
HSK 7, v, 12 strokes, radical 穴, rank #4465, Very Hard
窝
wō
cave, den, nest; hiding place; measure word for small animals
HSK 7, v, 12 strokes, radical 穴, rank #4465, Very Hard
wō(wo1)wo T1
1nest
2pit or hollow on the human body
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March 24, 2026
窝(窩)wō(wo1)
The character 窝 (wō) primarily means 'nest,' referring to a place where birds or animals live and raise their young. It can also denote a hollow or pit in the human body, a den or lair, and is used as a classifier for litters and broods. In broader contexts, it conveys the idea of sheltering or harboring something.
Strokes12Radical穴Frequency#4465DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the concept of a nest is often associated with family and safety, symbolizing a nurturing environment. The idea of a home or shelter is deeply ingrained in traditional Chinese values, reflecting the importance of familial bonds.
Memory tip
Imagine a cozy nest (窝) where birds are sheltered. The character has a roof (亻) over a hollow (口), symbolizing safety and protection. Think of the 'w' sound in 'warm' to remember the pronunciation, as a nest provides warmth.
Meanings of 窝
wō(wo1)
1nest
2pit or hollow on the human body
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 窝 means.
About 窝
窝Simplified
窩Traditional
12Strokes
穴Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#4465Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 窝
Podcast: 窝
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AI study notes for 窝
Quick Contrast
窝 (wō) vs 巢 (cháo) — use 窝 for informal or colloquial contexts, while 巢 is more formal and specifically refers to bird nests.
Usage Notes
When using 窝, it's important to pay attention to context. It is typically informal and can refer to both physical and metaphorical 'nests.' Common collocations include 窝里 (in the nest) and 窝藏 (to harbor). Be cautious with tone, as a mispronunciation can change the meaning.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 6 word, 窝 connects with other characters related to home and shelter. Students should focus on using it in phrases and understanding its various meanings in different contexts. Practice with synonyms and antonyms to enhance comprehension.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 窝 with 屋 (wū), which means 'house.' For example, saying '我住在窝里' (I live in a nest) instead of '我住在屋里' (I live in a house) is incorrect. Be mindful to use 窝 in appropriate contexts.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 窝
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Example
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Knowing 窝 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.
窝 = 穴 + 呙. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 窝
IDS Structure⿱穴呙
窝Full character
=
穴xue2
top
呙Guo1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 窝?
How to say nest in Chinese
“nest” in Chinese is窝wō
The character 窝 (wō) primarily means 'nest,' referring to a place where birds or animals live and raise their young. It can also denote a hollow or pit in the human body, a den or lair, and is used as a classifier for litters and broods. In broader contexts, it conveys the idea of sheltering or harboring something.
When to use 窝
When using 窝, it's important to pay attention to context. It is typically informal and can refer to both physical and metaphorical 'nests.' Common collocations include 窝里 (in the nest) and 窝藏 (to harbor). Be cautious with tone, as a mispronunciation can change the meaning.
窝 or something close to it
窝 (wō) vs 巢 (cháo) — use 窝 for informal or colloquial contexts, while 巢 is more formal and specifically refers to bird nests.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 窝 with 屋 (wū), which means 'house.' For example, saying '我住在窝里' (I live in a nest) instead of '我住在屋里' (I live in a house) is incorrect. Be mindful to use 窝 in appropriate contexts.
Write 窝
窝
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Practice writing 窝 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 窝
窝 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 10 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
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
最终是什么让你离开萨拉热____前往萨格勒布的？
What was it ultimately that led you to leave Sarajevo for Zagreb?
Example sentences for 窝 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
最终是什么让你离开萨拉热窝前往萨格勒布的？
zuìzhōng shì shénme ràng nǐ líkāi sà lā rè wō qiánwǎng sà gé lè bù de？
What was it ultimately that led you to leave Sarajevo for Zagreb?
2
萨拉热窝遭受了几个星期以来最严重的一次破坏。
sà lā rè wō zāoshòu le jǐ gè xīngqī yǐlái zuì yánzhòng de yī cì pòhuài。
Sarajevo took one of its worst poundings in weeks.
3
窝里有8只还没长毛、眼睛尚未睁开的小老鼠。
wō lǐ yǒu8 zhī hái méi cháng máo、 yǎnjing shàngwèi zhēng kāi de xiǎo lǎoshǔ。
The nest contained eight little mice that were naked and blind.
4
我们西班牙人太爱窝里斗了。
wǒmen xī bān yá rén tài ài wō lǐ dòu le。
We Spaniards have lined up against each other all too often.
5
那些知更鸟占了它们的老窝.
nàxiē zhī gèng niǎo zhàn le tāmen de lǎo wō.
The robins occupied their former nest.
6
一窝十二个蛋孵出了十个.
yī wō shíèr gè dàn fū chū le shí gè.
Ten out of the set of twelve were hatched.
7
一窝小狗
yī wō xiǎogǒu
a litter of puppies
8
她自己动不了窝,便派小福子一趟八趟的去买东西.
tā zìjǐ dòng bù le wō, biàn pài xiǎo fú zi yī tàng bā tàng de qù mǎidōngxi.
Unable to get about, she sent Joy on one errand after another.
