Definitions

wāng (noun) expanse of water; pool; puddle
wāng (verb) (onom.) bark of a dog

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "汪" is structurally composed of the water radical combined with the component "王", which historically functioned as a phonetic indicator, and its earliest recorded meanings consistently relate to substantial aquatic features like deep pools or extensive marshes. From this concrete foundation centered on depth and breadth of water, the term gradually expanded to describe more abstract notions of vastness, as exemplified in the compound "汪洋" for a boundless ocean. Over time, while retaining these core associations, the character also became conventionally established as a common surname within Chinese linguistic practice, illustrating a functional shift from descriptive to nominal use. Its consistent pictorial element of water has maintained a tangible connection to the character's etymological origins throughout these layers of semantic development.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Jin dynasty (266-420 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

小狗在叫。

Xiǎo gǒu zài wāng wāng jiào.

The puppy is barking.

先生今天来了。

Wāng xiānsheng jīntiān lái le.

Mr. Wang came today.

大海一片洋。

Dà hǎi yī piàn wāng yáng.

The sea is a vast expanse.

老师教我们数学。

Wāng lǎoshī jiāo wǒmen shùxué.

Teacher Wang teaches us mathematics.

远处传来的狗叫声。

Yuǎn chù chuán lái wāng wāng de gǒu jiào shēng.

The barking sound of dogs comes from afar.

雨水在坑里。

Yǔshuǐ wāng zài kēng lǐ.

Rainwater pools in the puddle.

洋大海一望无际。

Wāng yáng dà hǎi yī wàng wú jì.

The vast ocean is boundless.

洋的水面映照着蓝天白云。

Wāng yáng de shuǐ miàn yìng zhào zhe lán tiān bái yún.

The vast water surface reflects the blue sky and white clouds.