挖 meaning and stroke order
To dig; to excavate; to scoop out
How to write 挖, 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.
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- 9
Meaning of 挖
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to dig
- to excavate
- to scoop out
How 挖 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. To dig out 扌 a hollow 穵; 穵 also provides the pronunciation.
Radical: 扌 (hand), shared by 342 characters on this site.
How to remember 挖
挖 is a hand 扌 next to 穵 (wā), a hollow. Picture your hand scooping out a hollow in the ground, and the sound wā comes from 穵 too.
挖 is the everyday verb for digging with hands or tools, and it also shows up in figurative words like 挖掘 (wājué), to dig into or unearth talent or potential. Example: 小狗在花园里挖洞。(Xiǎogǒu zài huāyuán lǐ wā dòng.) The puppy is digging a hole in the garden.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 挖 with 控 (kòng, to control), since both have 扌 and a 穴-style top on the right side. Check the bottom of the right part: 挖 has 乙, while 控 has 工.
Common words with 挖
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
挖 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 挖
How many strokes are in 挖?
挖 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 挖 mean?
挖 (wā) means to dig; to excavate; to scoop out. A common word with it is 挖掘 (wājué), meaning "to excavate; (lit and fig.) to unearth; to dig into".
How do you pronounce 挖?
挖 is pronounced wā, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 挖?
The radical of 挖 is 扌, which carries the idea of "hand". Dictionaries list 挖 under this radical.
Is 挖 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 挖 is part of the HSK 6 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
What does 挖苦 mean, and is it about digging?
挖苦 (wāku) means to make sarcastic or cutting remarks about someone. It is not literal digging, but you can think of it as digging at someone's feelings. Note that 苦 is usually read in the neutral tone here.
What is the difference between 挖 and 掘 (jué)?
Both mean to dig, but 挖 is the common spoken verb you use for everyday digging. 掘 is more formal and mostly appears in compounds like 挖掘 or 发掘 (fājué), to discover or unearth.