Definitions

(noun) region in eastern China (southern Jiangsu, northern Zhejiang, Shanghai)
(noun) ancient states in southern China

Etymology

Simplified form of . Pictograph of a person () standing up, yelling with an open mouth ().

About

The character Wu, traditionally represented as 吳, finds its etymological origin in a composite structure featuring the radical for mouth (口) situated above a pictorial element depicting a person with a tilted head, which collectively conveyed the early meaning of boisterous speech or exuberant vocalization. This primary sense gradually shifted as the term was adopted to refer to a specific region and state in ancient China, thereby transforming from an action describing sound into a stable toponym and ethnonym associated with the coastal culture of the east. Its simplified contemporary form 吴 retains the oral component while modifying the lower element into a more regularized graphical shape, yet the character's core identification with the historical Wu area and its linguistic heritage persists through its structural and semantic continuity.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Cao Wei (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Jin dynasty (266-420 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

先生今天来了。

Wú xiānsheng jīntiān lái le.

Mr. Wu came today.

国在古代很有名。

Wú guó zài gǔdài hěn yǒumíng.

The state of Wu was famous in ancient times.

语是方言的一种。

Wú yǔ shì fāngyán de yī zhǒng.

Wu language is a type of dialect.

姓在中国很常见。

Wú xìng zài Zhōngguó hěn chángjiàn.

The surname Wu is very common in China.

老师教我们数学。

Wú lǎoshī jiāo wǒmen shùxué.

Teacher Wu teaches us math.

女士的表演很精彩。

Wú nǚshì de biǎoyǎn hěn jīngcǎi.

Ms. Wu's performance was wonderful.

文化具有独特的特点。

Wú wénhuà jùyǒu dútè de tèdiǎn.

Wu culture has unique characteristics.

哥窟是柬埔寨著名的旅游景点。

Wú gē kū shì Jiǎnpǔzhài zhùmíng de lǚyóu jǐngdiǎn.

Angkor Wat is a famous tourist attraction in Cambodia.