兀

wù

一 + 儿

Definitions

wù (adjective) towering

wù (adjective) bald

Etymology

Depicts a person with the head emphasized, conveying the meaning "stand tall".

About

兀 is an ideograph depicting a person (儿) with an emphasized head (the horizontal stroke 一 above), conveying the meaning "stand tall". This gave rise to senses of towering and bare, like a high mountain peak stripped of vegetation, and by extension described things projecting upward in isolation or appearing bald. Historically, the character was also used for the ancient punishment of amputating the feet, a meaning likely derived from the image of a truncated or severed lower half.

Etymology Hide

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他兀自站在那里。

Tā wùzì zhàn zài nàlǐ.

He is still standing there.

山峰兀立云端。

Shānfēng wùlì yúnduān.

The mountain peak stands upright in the clouds.

他兀自不语，思考着。

Tā wùzì bù yǔ, sīkǎo zhe.

He remained silent, thinking.

事情发生得兀突。

Shìqíng fāshēng de wūtū.

The thing happened suddenly.

他性格兀傲，不易接近。

Tā xìnggé wù'ào, bù yì jiējìn.

He has a haughty personality and is not easy to approach.

兀鹰在天空中盘旋。

Wùyīng zài tiānkōng zhōng pánxuán.

The vulture is circling in the sky.

尽管环境恶劣，他兀自坚持工作。

Jǐnguǎn huánjìng èliè, tā wùzì jiānchí gōngzuò.

Despite the harsh environment, he still persists in working.

那座兀立的古塔，见证了历史的变迁。

Nà zuò wùlì de gǔ tǎ, jiànzhèng le lìshǐ de biànqiān.

That upright ancient pagoda has witnessed the changes of history.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 一

Component: 儿

兀