cave, den, nest; hiding place; measure word for small animals
HSK 7, v, 12 strokes, radical 穴, rank #4465, Hard
wō(wo1) 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#4465DifficultyHard
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
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
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.
Memory Mnemonic
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.
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.
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.
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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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
Complete the Sentence
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)
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1
最终是什么让你离开萨拉热窝前往萨格勒布的？
zuì zhōng shì shí mó ràng nǐ lí kāi sà lā rè wō qián wǎng 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 zāo shòu le jī gè xīng qī yǐ lái zuì yán zhòng de yī cì pò huài。
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 8 zhī huán méi cháng、 máo 、 yǎn jīng shàng wèi zhēng kāi de xiǎo。
The nest contained eight little mice that were naked and blind.
4
我们西班牙人太爱窝里斗了。
wǒ mén xī bān yá rén tài ài wō lǐ dǒu 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.
nà xiē zhī gēng niǎo zhān le tā mén de lǎo wō.
The robins occupied their former nest.
6
一窝十二个蛋孵出了十个.
yī wō shí èr gè dàn fū chū le shí gè.
Ten out of the set of twelve were hatched.
7
一窝小狗
yī wō xiǎo gǒu
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 zì jǐ dòng bù le wō, , biàn pài xiǎo fú zǐ yī tàng bā tàng de qù mǎi dōng.
Unable to get about, she sent Joy on one errand after another.
9
篱笆, 窝棚,什么都七倒八歪,叫你一眼就瞧出那穷形窘状.
lí bā, , wō, péng , shí mó dū qī dǎo, bā wāi , jiào nǐ yī yǎn jiù qiáo chū nà qióng.
Fences , sheds , everything had a ruined look, and were eloquent of poverty.
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.
Word Family of 窝
Words Containing This Character20
窝wōnest窩
被窝quilt被窩
窝囊废wimp窩囊廢
窝囊annoyed窩囊
窝点lair窩點
酒窝dimple酒窩
蜂窝bee's nest蜂窩
腋窝armpit腋窩
窝心aggrieved窩心
窝藏to harbor窩藏
萨拉热窝Sarajevo, capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina薩拉熱窩
眼窝eye socket眼窩
燕窝swallow's nest燕窩
一窝蜂like a swarm of bees一窩蜂
鸟窝bird's nest鳥窩
胳肢窝armpit胳肢窩
窝里斗internal strife (family, group, etc)窩裡鬥
安乐窝comfortable niche安樂窩
贼窝thieves' lair賊窩
蜂窝煤hexagonal household coal briquet蜂窩煤
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 窝 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 窝
Common phrases include 窝里 (in the nest) and 窝藏 (to hide/harbor).
Generally, 窝 is considered informal, so it's better suited for conversational contexts rather than formal writing.
The correct pronunciation is 'wō' with a high level tone.
