Definitions

(verb) to lie down; to recline

Etymology

Depicts a person () with their eye () leaning forward preparing to lie down and sleep.

About

The character "卧" derives from its traditional form "臥", structurally composed of "臣" meaning minister and "人" meaning person, which together depict a person in a reclining posture. Its etymology centers on the act of lying down, a meaning that has consistently defined its use while gradually expanding to encompass related notions such as crouching or resting in a prone position. The simplified form "卧" alters the component from "人" to "卜", yet this structural adjustment does not shift the core semantic association with lying down, which remains apparent in modern compounds like "卧室" for bedroom or "卧铺" for sleeping berth.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

在床上。

Tā wò zài chuáng shang.

He is lying on the bed.

室里很安静。

Wòshì lǐ hěn ānjìng.

The bedroom is very quiet.

小猫在阳光下。

Xiǎo māo wò zài yángguāng xià.

The kitten is lying in the sunlight.

他静静地在草地上。

Tā jìngjìng de wò zài cǎodì shàng.

He is lying quietly on the grass.

铺车厢里乘客不多。

Wòpù chēxiāng lǐ chéngkè bù duō.

There are not many passengers in the sleeper carriage.

这款沙发可以着看电视。

Zhè kuǎn shāfā kěyǐ wòzhe kàn diànshì.

This sofa allows you to lie down and watch TV.

患者需要床休息一周。

Huànzhě xūyào wòchuáng xiūxi yī zhōu.

The patient needs to stay in bed and rest for a week.

式发动机节省空间。

Wòshì fādòngjī jiéshěng kōngjiān.

The horizontal engine saves space.