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March 24, 2026
娃娃wáwa(wa2wa5)
娃娃 (wáwa) refers to a baby, small child, or doll. It is commonly used in contexts relating to children, toys, or affectionate terms for young ones. This word conveys a sense of innocence and playfulness, making it suitable for informal conversations.
Frequency#2622DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 娃娃 is often associated with traditional toys and the importance of childhood in family life. Dolls, particularly in rural areas, may also have symbolic meanings in terms of nurturing and familial expectations.
Memory Tip
Think of a 'waddle' when you see a '娃娃' (wáwa). Imagine a baby waddling around, which helps you link the pronunciation with the image of a small child or doll. The character 娃, resembling a child, and 娃娃, meaning small child or doll, together form a picture of youthful innocence.
Meanings of 娃娃
wáwa(wa2wa5)
1baby
2small child
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 娃娃
娃娃Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#2622Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 娃娃
Podcast: 娃娃
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AI Study Notes for 娃娃
Quick Contrast
娃娃 (wáwa) vs 小孩 (xiǎohái) — use 娃娃 for a more affectionate or playful connotation, while 小孩 is more neutral and general.
Memory Mnemonic
Think of a 'waddle' when you see a '娃娃' (wáwa). Imagine a baby waddling around, which helps you link the pronunciation with the image of a small child or doll. The character 娃, resembling a child, and 娃娃, meaning small child or doll, together form a picture of youthful innocence.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 娃娃 with 童 (tóng), which also refers to children but is more formal. 娃娃 is predominantly informal and is often used in casual speech. Common collocations include 娃娃玩具 (wáwá wánjù - toy doll) and 娃娃亲 (wáwá qīn - arranged marriage when young).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 6 word, 娃娃 connects with other words related to childhood and family, such as 儿童 (értóng - children) and 孩子 (háizi - kid). Focus on using 娃娃 in sentences that express affection or describe childhood experiences.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 娃娃 is often associated with traditional toys and the importance of childhood in family life. Dolls, particularly in rural areas, may also have symbolic meanings in terms of nurturing and familial expectations.
Common Mistakes
Learners often misuse 娃娃 in formal contexts, such as in writing or speeches, where a more formal term like 儿童 (értóng) would be appropriate. For example, saying '娃娃的教育' (wáwa de jiàoyù) instead of '儿童的教育' (értóng de jiàoyù) would be incorrect.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 娃娃
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Grammar Patterns of 娃娃
娃娃 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
床头贴着“胖____萝卜”的年画.
The cave was large , but quite warm . It had a stove and eating utensils.
Example Sentences for 娃娃 (8)
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1
床头贴着“胖娃娃萝卜”的年画.
chuáng tóu tiē zháo“ “ pàng wá wá luó” bǔ ” de.
The cave was large , but quite warm . It had a stove and eating utensils.
2
孩子紧抱着她的洋娃娃.
hái zǐ jǐn bào zháo tā de yáng wá wá.
The child is hugging her doll.
3
小孩紧抱着洋娃娃.
xiǎo hái jǐn bào zháo yáng wá wá.
The child clasped the doll tightly.
4
这个女孩把她的洋娃娃紧抱在怀里.
zhè gè nǚ hái bǎ tā de yáng wá wá jǐn bào zài huái lǐ.
The two young daughters sat on the bedroom couch watching him.
6
这小娃娃挺好玩儿.
zhè xiǎo wá wá tǐng hǎo wán ér.
The baby is very cute.
7
她抓起玩具娃娃，用力往石墙上扔去。
tā zhuā qǐ wán jù wá wá， ， yòng lì wǎng shí qiáng shàng rēng。
She seized the doll and dashed it against the stone wall with tremendous force.
8
那娃娃乖得很。
nà wá wá guāi dé hěn。
The kld is as good as gold.
Cultural Notes for 娃娃
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of 娃娃 is often associated with traditional toys and the importance of childhood in family life. Dolls, particularly in rural areas, may also have symbolic meanings in terms of nurturing and familial expectations.
Frequently Asked Questions about 娃娃
娃娃 is more informal and often refers specifically to young children or dolls, while 孩子 is a broader term for kids in general.
No, 娃娃 is specifically for children or dolls and is not appropriate for adults.
While primarily referring to children or dolls, it can also be used affectionately to refer to someone who is innocent or childlike in nature.
