About
The character 吾, serving as a first-person pronoun, is etymologically derived from the combination of the semantic element 口, meaning "mouth", and the phonetic component 五, which historically guided its pronunciation. This structural formation suggests an origin linked to verbal self-reference, emphasizing the act of speaking or declaring one's own identity. Over time, while its fundamental meaning as "I" or "we" persisted, the usage of 吾 gradually receded from everyday spoken language, becoming predominantly reserved for classical texts, literary expressions, and formal compounds, alongside the rise of 我 as the more colloquial equivalent. Its traditional form, unchanged and without a simplified variant, continues to reflect this enduring linguistic heritage in written Chinese.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
吾家有三口人。
吾人喜欢读书。
吾国之历史很长。
吾辈青年要努力奋斗。
吾心永远向着光明。
吾人所追求的是和平。
吾人必须面对现实挑战。
吾辈当铭记历史教训，共创未来。