How to Write 倭 (wō) — Meaning “dwarf; (archaic) Japan”

Imagine a person (亻) bowing (委) because they are very short, like a dwarf. Another way is to think of 倭瓜 (pumpkin): picture a person with a big round pumpkin for a head, which is also short and round. The shape of 委 with grain on top and a woman below can also remind you of a small, bent figure.

Write the left radical 亻 first (two strokes: vertical, then left-slanting vertical). Then the right part 委: start with 禾 (top stroke, then left, then horizontal, then right-falling, and finally bottom horizontal), then add 女 (left vertical folded, right left-slanting, and finally bottom horizontal). A common mistake is making the right side too wide or mixing up the strokes of 禾 and 女; keep 禾 narrow and 女's bottom horizontal long.

倭 has the right component 委 (禾 above 女), while 佩 has a more complex right part with 夂 and 巾, and 佬 has 老 (earth, knife, and a hook) on the right. Visually, 倭's right side looks like a short woman under grain, whereas 佩 is taller and 佬 has the distinctive 老 shape. In meaning, 倭 refers to Japan or dwarf, 佩 means to admire or wear, and 佬 is a slang term for a man or fellow.

Today, 倭 is mostly found in historical terms like 倭寇 (Japanese pirates) or in the word 倭瓜 (pumpkin), though 南瓜 is more common. It is rarely used alone and can sound outdated or even offensive when referring to Japan, because it was once a Chinese name for Japan that later carried negative associations. For modern Japanese people or things, always use 日本 (Rìběn) instead.

Common words containing 倭 include: 倭瓜 (wō guā) — pumpkin; squash; 倭寇 (wō kòu) — Japanese pirates (historical); 倭人 (wō rén) — (archaic) Japanese person.