哇 meaning and stroke order
Replaces 啊[a5] when following the vowel "u" or "ao"
How to write 哇, stroke by stroke
9 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
Meaning of 哇
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- replaces 啊[a5] when following the vowel "u" or "ao"
- Wow!
- sound of a child's crying
- sound of vomiting
How 哇 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Mouth.
口 gives the meaning and 圭 hints at the sound.
Radical: 口 (mouth), shared by 428 characters on this site.
How to remember 哇
哇 combines 口 (mouth) with 圭 (guī), which gives the sound. Picture a wide-open mouth letting out a loud "wa", whether it is a baby crying, someone saying wow, or someone being sick.
As wā, 哇 is an interjection for surprise or a sound word for crying and vomiting. In the neutral tone (wa), it replaces the particle 啊 after words ending in u or ao. Example: 哇，太漂亮了。(Wā, tài piàoliang le.) Wow, it's so beautiful.
Common mistake: Learners often write 洼 (wā, hollow) or 娃 (wá, baby) when they mean 哇. All three share 圭, so check the left side: only the interjection uses 口. Also, 娃 is second tone, while the exclamation 哇 is first tone.
Common words with 哇
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 好哇 | hǎowā | hurray!; hurrah! | |
| 哇塞 | wāsāi | (slang) wow!; also pr. [wa1sei1] | |
| 哇哇 | wāwā | sound of crying |
哇 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 哇
How many strokes are in 哇?
哇 is written with 9 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 哇 mean?
哇 (wa) means replaces 啊[a5] when following the vowel "u" or "ao". A common word with it is 好哇 (hǎowā), meaning "hurray!; hurrah!".
How do you pronounce 哇?
哇 is pronounced wa, in the neutral tone (short and light).
What is the radical of 哇?
The radical of 哇 is 口, which carries the idea of "mouth". Dictionaries list 哇 under this radical.
Is 哇 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 哇 is part of the HSK 6 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
What does 哇塞 mean and is it polite?
哇塞 (wāsāi) is a casual slang way to say wow. It is fine among friends but sounds too informal for business or formal writing.
When do I write 哇 instead of 啊 at the end of a sentence?
When the word before the particle ends in u or ao, the sound of 啊 blends into wa, and many people write it as 哇. For example, 好哇 (hǎo wa) or 你在哪儿住哇. Writing 啊 there is also acceptable.