吴

吳

wú

口 + 天

Definitions

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

Wú (noun) ancient states in southern China

Etymology

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

About

The simplified character 吴 derives from 吳, combining 口 (kǒu, mouth) with 天 (a person standing) to depict someone yelling. It was historically the name of an ancient state in the Yangtze River Delta and today functions primarily as a widespread surname, also appearing in references like the Wu dialect of eastern China. The original shout-related meaning has largely faded from modern usage.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Cao Wei (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)

Clerical Jin dynasty (266-420 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

吴先生今天来了。

Wú xiānsheng jīntiān lái le.

Mr. Wu came today.

吴国在古代很有名。

Wú guó zài gǔdài hěn yǒumíng.

The state of Wu was famous in ancient times.

吴语是方言的一种。

Wú yǔ shì fāngyán de yī zhǒng.

Wu language is a type of dialect.

吴姓在中国很常见。

Wú xìng zài Zhōngguó hěn chángjiàn.

The surname Wu is very common in China.

吴老师教我们数学。

Wú lǎoshī jiāo wǒmen shùxué.

Teacher Wu teaches us math.

吴女士的表演很精彩。

Wú nǚshì de biǎoyǎn hěn jīngcǎi.

Ms. Wu's performance was wonderful.

吴文化具有独特的特点。

Wú wénhuà jùyǒu dútè de tèdiǎn.

Wu culture has unique characteristics.

吴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.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 口

Component: 天

吴