How many strokes does the Chinese character "武" (wǔ) have?
"武" has 8 strokes in Simplified Chinese. Its primary dictionary radical is 止, and you can animate or practice writing every stroke in order using the interactive grid on this page.
Ready · 8 strokes
Speed:
Strength & Mythic Symbols
Name: Good with Pairing
Tattoo: Safe & Classic
武 Martial in Chinese (wǔ)
Dictionary Summary
武 (wǔ) means martial; military; surname Wu. Simplified form has 8 strokes under radical 止.
Pinyin & Tonewǔ (Tone 3)
Simplified / Trad.武 / 武
Radical止
Total Strokes8 strokes
StructureTop-Left Wrap (一 + 弋 + 止)
Unicode / LevelU+6B66 · HSK 4
Native Naming & Tattoo Safety Review
🪪 Using “武” in a Chinese Name · Good with Pairing (Masculine-leaning)
Classical and heroic when paired cleanly (e.g., 尚武, 绍武), though avoid harsh combinations. Traditionally paired as a balance to 文 (literary).
✒️ Using “武” for a Tattoo · Safe & Classic
Deeply respected among martial arts practitioners—famous for its Confucian etymology: 'stopping weapons (止戈为武)' means true martial mastery brings peace.
Character Etymology & CC-CEDICT Meanings
Origin & Visual Logic: Historically interpreted as 止 (stop/halt) and 戈 (halberd/spear): strength used to halt conflict rather than provoke it.
| Traditional / Simplified | Pinyin | CC-CEDICT Definitions |
|---|---|---|
| 武 / 武 | wǔ | martial; military |
| 武 / 武 | Wǔ | surname Wu |
Lexical entries derived from CC-CEDICT (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Make Me a Hanzi (APL / LGPL-3.0).
Common Words & Idioms Using “武”
| Chinese Word | Pinyin | English Meaning | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 武术 | wǔshù | martial arts (wushu) | |
| 威武 | wēiwǔ | mighty and awe-inspiring | |
| 文武双全 | wénwǔ-shuāngquán | accomplished in both scholarship and martial skill |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is "武" good to use in a real Chinese name?
Rating: Good with Pairing (Masculine-leaning). Classical and heroic when paired cleanly (e.g., 尚武, 绍武), though avoid harsh combinations. Traditionally paired as a balance to 文 (literary).
Is "武" safe as a Chinese character tattoo?
Tattoo rating: Safe & Classic. Deeply respected among martial arts practitioners—famous for its Confucian etymology: 'stopping weapons (止戈为武)' means true martial mastery brings peace.