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 吴, with its traditional form 吳, is structurally composed of 口 meaning "mouth" and 夨 representing a person with a tilted head, together originally conveying the concept of shouting or loud speech. This etymological basis shifted when the character was applied to denote the Wu state during the Zhou dynasty, transforming its primary meaning from vocal expression to a geographical identifier. Over centuries, it further evolved to refer to the associated culture, people, and ultimately became a common surname. The modern form 吴 substitutes 夨 with the component 天, resulting in a altered graphical structure while maintaining the historical semantic connections.

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.