毋 meaning and stroke order
Not; do not; surname
How to write 毋, stroke by stroke
4 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
Meaning of 毋
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- (literary) no
- don't
- to not have
- nobody
How to remember 毋
Picture 毋 (wú) as a frame with one firm stroke slashing straight through it, like a bar blocking a door. The bar says do not enter, which matches its meaning of don't.
毋 (wú) is literary and formal, so you mostly see it in set phrases, signs, and written Chinese rather than casual speech. It works like 不要 (bùyào) or 别 (bié) in commands. Example: 宁缺毋滥 (nìng quē wú làn), better to go without than to accept something poor.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 毋 with 母 (mǔ, mother). 母 has two separate dots inside, while 毋 has one long stroke cutting through the whole shape. Also do not use 毋 in everyday speech where 别 (bié) sounds natural.
毋 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 毋
How many strokes are in 毋?
毋 is written with 4 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 毋 mean?
毋 (wú) means not; do not; surname.
How do you pronounce 毋?
毋 is pronounced wú, in the second tone (rising).
What does 毋庸置疑 mean?
毋庸置疑 (wúyōng zhìyí) means beyond doubt or unquestionable. It is a common formal idiom, for example in news writing: 这是毋庸置疑的 (zhè shì wúyōng zhìyí de), this is beyond doubt.
Is 毋 the same as 无 (wú)?
They share the same pronunciation and both can mean not having, but 毋 is mainly used as a prohibition, like don't. 无 (wú) is far more common and usually means without or none, as in 无法 (wúfǎ), unable to.