name
Common
Wu
WOO
Wu (name) means a group of closely related Chinese language varieties spoken around the lower Yangtze River, including Shanghainese; the second most widely spoken Chinese language family after Mandarin. Example: “Her grandparents speak Wu at home, though she answers them in Mandarin.”
name
1
A group of closely related Chinese language varieties spoken around the lower Yangtze River, including Shanghainese; the second most widely spoken Chinese language family after Mandarin.
"Her grandparents speak Wu at home, though she answers them in Mandarin."
2
A common Chinese surname.
"The professor's surname was Wu."
noun
1
A shaman in traditional Chinese religion.
"Ancient texts describe rituals performed by a wu to communicate with spirits."
How to use Wu
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMost often encountered as a Chinese surname or the name of the Wu language family.
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Word forms
- Plural
- wus
Fill the gap
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Her grandparents speak _____ at home, though she answers them in Mandarin.
Etymology
A romanization of the Mandarin pronunciation of the Chinese character 吳/吴, tied historically to the Wu region and its ancient kingdoms.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “Wu” mean?
The word “Wu” means a group of closely related Chinese language varieties spoken around the lower Yangtze River, including Shanghainese; the second most widely spoken Chinese language family after Mandarin. In plain terms, most often encountered as a Chinese surname or the name of the Wu language family.
How do you pronounce “Wu”?
“Wu” is pronounced WOO (/ˈwuː/ in IPA).
How do you use “Wu” in a sentence?
Here is “Wu” used in a sentence: “Her grandparents speak Wu at home, though she answers them in Mandarin.”
What is another word for “Wu”?
Words with a similar meaning to “Wu” include Gusu, Helu City, Suzhou, Woo, Wu Chinese and Jiangnan.
What part of speech is “Wu”?
Depending on how it is used, “Wu” can be a name and a noun.
Where does the word “Wu” come from?
The word “Wu” comes from Chinese. A romanization of the Mandarin pronunciation of the Chinese character 吳/吴, tied historically to the Wu region and its ancient kingdoms.
Is “Wu” a common word?
“Wu” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Wu” have?
“Wu” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a group of closely related Chinese language varieties spoken around the lower Yangtze River, including Shanghainese; the second most widely spoken Chinese language family after Mandarin.
Is Wu the same as Mandarin Chinese?
No, Wu is a separate group of Chinese language varieties, distinct from Mandarin, spoken around the lower Yangtze River including Shanghai. It is the second most widely spoken Chinese language family after Mandarin, and speakers of Wu and Mandarin generally cannot understand each other without study.
What is the difference between Wu and Shanghainese?
Shanghainese is one specific dialect within the broader Wu language family. Wu covers a wider range of related varieties spoken across the lower Yangtze region, of which Shanghainese is the best known.
Is Wu only a language name?
No, Wu can also refer to a common Chinese surname or, in traditional Chinese religion, to a shaman. Context determines which meaning applies.
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