渦 (wō) - whirlpool, vortex & eddy

渦Tone 1

wō ｜ 11 strokes ｜ radical:

万响

渦 · wō

whirlpool, vortex;

eddy;

spiral;

used in words related to swirling motion or spiral shapes.

whirlpool, vortexeddyspiral

Usage highlights

whirlpooleddy currentspiral galaxydimplevortexturbine

Synonyms

Antonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The boat was caught in a whirlpool (漩涡).
  • A spiral galaxy (涡状星系) is a type of galaxy.
  • The water formed a small eddy (小水涡).
  • He has a dimple on his cheek (酒涡).

Collocations

  • whirlpool(漩涡)
  • eddy current(涡流)
  • spiral galaxy(涡状星系)
  • dimple(酒涡)
  • vortex(涡旋)
  • turbine(涡轮)

Idioms

  • To stir up trouble(兴风作浪，推波助澜 - idiom implying creating a vortex of trouble)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Chinese cosmology, whirlpools and vortices are sometimes associated with chaotic or powerful natural forces.
  • The character appears in technical terms like 'turbine' (涡轮), linking it to modern engineering.
  • The 'dimple' sense (酒涡) carries a positive, charming connotation in personal appearance.

FAQ