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March 24, 2026
袜(襪)wà(wa4)
袜 (wà) refers to socks or stockings in Mandarin. It is commonly used in both casual and formal contexts when discussing clothing items worn on the feet. The term can also encompass various styles and materials of socks, from casual cotton to more formal dress socks.
Strokes10Radical衤Frequency#6218DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, socks are often given as gifts during festivals, symbolizing warmth and care, especially among family members. It's common to see colorful or patterned socks, especially among younger generations, reflecting personal style.
Memory Tip
Imagine a sock (袜) that has a 'w' shape at the top. Visualize it as a pair of 'w' shaped wings, representing how socks lift your feet off the ground, keeping them warm and stylish. The 'w' sound in 'wà' can remind you of 'warm' which is something you want from your socks.
Meanings of 袜
wà(wa4)
1socks
2stockings
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 袜
袜Simplified
襪Traditional
10Strokes
衤Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#6218Frequency Rank
Podcast: 袜
Podcast: 袜
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AI Study Notes for 袜
Quick Contrast
袜子 (wàzi) vs 袜 (wà) — use 袜 for a more formal or general reference to socks, while 袜子 is the more casual, everyday term.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a sock (袜) that has a 'w' shape at the top. Visualize it as a pair of 'w' shaped wings, representing how socks lift your feet off the ground, keeping them warm and stylish. The 'w' sound in 'wà' can remind you of 'warm' which is something you want from your socks.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 袜 (wà) with 襪, which is a variant character. In conversation, it’s common to specify types of socks, like '运动袜' (sports socks) or '棉袜' (cotton socks). Remember to use the correct tone, as mispronouncing it can change the meaning.
HSK Study Tips
Although 袜 (wà) is not specifically included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to clothing terms commonly found in HSK levels 1-3. Students should focus on pronunciation and recognizing similar vocabulary related to clothing to enhance their understanding.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, socks are often given as gifts during festivals, symbolizing warmth and care, especially among family members. It's common to see colorful or patterned socks, especially among younger generations, reflecting personal style.
Common Mistakes
Learners often forget to use the correct tone when pronouncing 袜, leading to misunderstandings. For instance, saying 'wa' instead of 'wà' can confuse listeners, as it can change the meaning entirely. Always practice the third tone for accuracy.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 袜
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Grammar Patterns of 袜
袜 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 3 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 4
Complete the Sentence
“____铺”是20世纪80年代商业成功的范例之一。
Sock Shop was one of the high-street success stories of the 80s.
This woman wore seamed nylons and kept smoothing her skirt.
Cultural Notes for 袜
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, socks are often given as gifts during festivals, symbolizing warmth and care, especially among family members. It's common to see colorful or patterned socks, especially among younger generations, reflecting personal style.
Word Family of 袜
Words Containing This Character10
袜子wàzisocks襪子
袜wàsocks襪
丝袜stockings絲襪
长袜hose長襪
短袜sock短襪
鞋袜shoes and socks鞋襪
吊袜带suspenders (for stockings)吊襪帶
连裤袜panty hose連褲襪
袜套leg warmers襪套
袜带garter襪帶
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 袜子 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 袜
No, 袜 (wà) refers specifically to socks or stockings, while 靴 (xuē) means 'boots.' They are different types of footwear with distinct purposes and styles.
袜 (wà) is a more formal term for socks, while 袜子 (wàzi) is the common word used in daily conversation. Both refer to the same item, but 袜子 is more frequently used in spoken language.
袜 (wà) means 'socks' or 'stockings' in Chinese. It refers to the garment worn on the feet, typically made of fabric. This character can also appear in phrases related to clothing and fashion.
You can use 袜 (wà) in sentences like '我买了一双新的袜子' (Wǒ mǎile yīshuāng xīn de wàzi), which means 'I bought a new pair of socks.' This shows how to incorporate the word into everyday conversation about clothing.
袜 is a variant character of 襪, and both refer to socks. However, 袜 is the more common form used in everyday language.
Yes, 袜 can refer to various types of socks, such as sports socks, dress socks, or even thermal socks for winter.
You can say '我买了一双新袜子' (I bought a new pair of socks).
