How to Write 敄 (wù) — Meaning “To exert effort”

Picture a warrior holding a spear (矛) and striking repeatedly (攵) — that action demands great effort. This visual of "spear plus action equals exertion" helps link the form to the meaning.

Write 矛 first (5 strokes: left-falling, horizontal, vertical hook, left-falling, dot), then 攵 below (4 strokes: left-falling, horizontal, left-falling, right-falling). Keep 矛 wide and 攵 compact; a common mistake is making the top part too narrow or the bottom too tall.

敄 has 矛 (spear) on top and 攵 below, meaning effort. 改 has 己 (self) on the left and 攵 on the right, meaning to change. 攸 has 亻 (person) on the left and a vertical stroke, plus 攵; it means "that which" or a place. Visually, look for the spear shape in 敄 versus a person or self component.

敄 is rare in daily use and not in the HSK, appearing mainly in classical texts or formal compounds like 敄力 (exert effort) and 勤敄 (diligent at duties). It carries a literary, old-fashioned tone, similar to 努力 but with a stronger sense of sustained, physical effort.

Common words containing 敄 include: 敄力 (wù lì) — To exert effort; 敄行 (wù xíng) — To practice diligently; 勤敄 (qín wù) — diligent in duties.