卧 Stroke Order — How to Write 卧
卧 is written in 8 strokes, following the standard Chinese stroke order. Start from the radical 臣, then complete the remaining strokes.
Stroke order matters in Chinese: it keeps the character balanced, and it is how dictionaries and handwriting input methods expect a character to be written.
卧 Radical and Character Components
卧 is an ideographic compound. A person 卜 (altered form of 人) laying in bed 臣.
Radical: 臣 + 6 more strokes
卧 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- wò
Meanings of 卧 in Chinese
1
wò卧
To lie down, recline, or crouch. It can refer to a state of being prone, or to objects/places for lying down (e.g., 'bedroom', 'bunk'). It can also be used metaphorically for 'lying in wait' (as in 'undercover agent') or 'hidden talent'.
听到警报声，所有人都迅速卧倒在地。
Upon hearing the alarm, everyone quickly lay down on the ground.
To poach (an egg) by dropping it into boiling water.
早上我喜欢卧个鸡蛋在面条里。
In the morning, I like to poach an egg in my noodles.
Common Words and Phrases with 卧
1
To be confined to bed due to illness.
奶奶卧病在床，全家人都轮流照料她。
Grandma is bedridden, and the entire family takes turns caring for her.
2
Insomnia with restlessness; inability to sleep soundly or lie flat due to various conditions like stomach discomfort.
他因为工作压力太大，每晚都卧不安，总是翻来覆去到深夜。
Due to excessive work pressure, he is restless in bed every night, always tossing and turning until late.
3
A railway passenger car equipped with berths for sleeping, also known as a sleeping car or a sedan.
乘坐卧车可以舒舒服服地睡上一晚。
Taking a sleeping car allows you to sleep comfortably through the night.
4
To be confined to bed, usually due to illness or old age.
奶奶生病了，卧床休养了一段时间。
Grandma was sick and stayed in bed to recuperate for a period.
5
To drop to the ground quickly, usually to take cover or avoid something.
听到警报声，所有人都立即卧倒在地。
Upon hearing the alarm, everyone immediately dropped to the ground.
6
An undercover agent or a mole.
电影中的侦探卧底在犯罪团伙中，最终成功破获了案件。
The detective in the movie went undercover in a criminal gang and eventually succeeded in solving the case.
7
A bedroom, or a private compartment on a sleeper train.
这套公寓的卧房采光很好，每天早上都能享受到阳光。
The bedrooms in this apartment have excellent natural light, enjoying sunshine every morning.
8
To lie on railway tracks, usually to block a train or commit suicide.
他因为巨大的精神压力，一度产生了卧轨的念头。
Due to immense mental pressure, he once had the thought of lying on the railway tracks.
9
A poached egg.
妈妈早晨给我煮了一个卧果儿，说吃了对身体好。
Mom boiled a shelled egg for me this morning, saying it's good for health.
10
11
An exceptionally talented person living in seclusion, whose abilities are not yet widely known or utilized.
这位年轻的画家虽然默默无闻，但他的作品充满了灵性，很多人都说他将来会是一代卧龙。
Though currently unknown, this young painter imbues his works with great spirit; many believe he is a 'sleeping dragon,' a future outstanding talent yet to fully emerge.
12
inside the bedroom
她喜欢在卧内阅读，享受宁静的个人时光。
She enjoys reading in her bedroom, savoring peaceful personal time.
13
A sleeping berth on a train.
为了长途旅行，我预订了一张火车上的卧铺。
For the long journey, I booked a sleeping berth on the train.
14
15
16
To suffer self-imposed hardships and work diligently with great determination, typically to achieve a challenging goal or avenge a humiliation.
在经历了失败后，他决心卧薪尝胆，夜以继日地学习新技能，最终在下一次比赛中取得了令人瞩目的成绩。
After experiencing failure, he resolved to endure self-imposed hardships and work diligently, studying new skills day and night. He eventually achieved remarkable results in the next competition.
More words with 卧
- jiāng僵wò卧lie down motionlessly
- tǎng躺wò卧lie down to sleep or rest
- fú伏wò卧lie prone, prostrate
- yǎn偃wò卧lie on one's back; lie supine
- quán蜷wò卧to curl up and lie down
- fǔ俯wò卧chēng撑push-up
- héng横wò卧lie across, lie horizontally
- wò卧bìng病zài在chuáng床bedridden, confined to bed
- wò卧chuáng床bìng病rén人bedridden patient, bedfast patient
- wò卧chuáng床xiū休xi息bed rest, rest in bed
- yǎng仰wò卧qǐ起zuò坐sit-up, crunches
- wò卧shì室chuáng床tóu头Bedside, Head of the bed
- cháng长hóng虹wò卧bō波Rainbow bridge, A rainbow over the water
- jiǔ久bìng病wò卧chuáng床chronically ill and bedridden, bedridden from a prolonged illness
- yǐn隐jǐ几ér而wò卧Recline against a low table, Lie leaning on a desk
Idioms with 卧
- wò卧bù不ān安xí席unable to sleep due to worries
- wò卧chuáng床bù不qǐ起confined to bed due to illness
- wò卧hǔ虎cáng藏lóng龙hidden talents and unseen masters
- wò卧tà榻zhī之cè侧right next to one's bed
- cáng藏lóng龙wò卧hǔ虎hidden talented individuals
- cháng尝dǎn胆wò卧xīn薪endure hardships to achieve a goal
- gāo高wò卧dōng东shān山live in seclusion, decline official appointments
- gāo高zhěn枕ér而wò卧sleep soundly and peacefully
- hé和yī衣ér而wò卧sleep in one's clothes
- héng横dǎo倒shù竖wò卧lie about in disorder
- héng横tǎng躺shù竖wò卧lying about in disarray
- xíng行dòng动zuò坐wò卧every move and posture
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Open the tool →Questions about 卧
What does 卧 mean in Chinese?
卧 (wò) means “To lie down” in Chinese.
How do you pronounce 卧?
卧 is pronounced wò in Mandarin Chinese.
How many strokes does 卧 have?
卧 has 8 strokes.
How do you write 卧?
卧 is written in 8 strokes, starting from the radical 臣. See the animated stroke order on this page.
What is the radical of 卧?
The radical of 卧 is 臣, and 卧 is an ideographic compound.
