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邬 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
邬wūsurname Wuunknown, 6 strokes, radical 阝, rank #91461, Very Hard
邬wūvarious place names; surnamenr, 6 strokes, radical 阝, rank #91461, Very Hard
邬wūancient place nameunknown, 6 strokes, radical 阝, rank #91461, Very Hard
wū(Wu1) T1
  1. 1surname Wu
  2. 2various place names; surname
Also a Chinese surname, Wu — see the Surname Dictionary
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

邬(鄔)wū(Wu1)

The character 邬 (wū) primarily serves as a surname in Chinese culture and is also associated with various place names. It is less commonly encountered in daily conversation but may appear in historical texts or when discussing geographical locations. Understanding its usage can enhance comprehension of certain names and locations in China.

Strokes6Radical阝Frequency#91461DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

The surname 邬 is relatively rare and may be associated with specific regions in China. Surnames in China often carry historical significance, reflecting lineage and ancestry.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'woo' sound as you picture a small house (representing a place) on a hill. The roof of the house resembles the top of the character 邬, while the 'woo' sound helps you remember the pronunciation.

Meanings of 邬

wū(Wu1)
1various place names; surname
2ancient place name
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 邬

邬Simplified
鄔Traditional
6Strokes
阝Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 邬

JasonAmy

Podcast: 邬

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 邬

Usage Notes

Learners often mistake 邬 for similar-sounding surnames or characters. It's important to use the correct tone and context, especially when discussing family names or locations. Note that in formal contexts, the use of surnames may require additional titles.

HSK Study Tips

Though 邬 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects to the broader study of surnames in Mandarin, which often appear in HSK Level 2 and 3. Students should focus on recognizing surnames as they relate to cultural identity.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 邬 with other characters that have similar pronunciations, such as 吴 (wú). It's crucial to practice the correct tone and ensure you're using the character in appropriate contexts, such as when discussing names.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 邬

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Etymology of 邬

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

place

Semantic (meaning)阝
+
Phonetic (sound)乌
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 邬

  1. 1The meaning half阝 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half乌 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayplace
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 邬? 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 邬?

Decomposition of 邬

IDS Structure⿰乌阝
邬Full Character
=
乌Wu1
left
阝yi4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 邬?

How to say surname Wu in Chinese

“surname Wu” in Chinese is邬wū

The character 邬 (wū) primarily serves as a surname in Chinese culture and is also associated with various place names. It is less commonly encountered in daily conversation but may appear in historical texts or when discussing geographical locations. Understanding its usage can enhance comprehension of certain names and locations in China.

When to use 邬

Learners often mistake 邬 for similar-sounding surnames or characters. It's important to use the correct tone and context, especially when discussing family names or locations. Note that in formal contexts, the use of surnames may require additional titles.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 邬 with other characters that have similar pronunciations, such as 吴 (wú). It's crucial to practice the correct tone and ensure you're using the character in appropriate contexts, such as when discussing names.

Write 邬

邬

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 邬

Words Containing This Character1
邬wūsurname Wu鄔
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 邬 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 邬

No, 邬 is considered a less common surname compared to others like Wang (王) or Li (李).

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 邬?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.