TSUMUGU · TOCFL 2 (est.) · 字
哇
哇 ＝ 口 ＋ 圭
ㄨㄚ · wā
interj — wow!; verb — to wail, retch
字源 FORM — what the parts do
圭聲guī — gives the sounda doubled-jade graph, 土 over 土
IFTguī → wā — the initial drops away entirely, irregular
A mouth (口) throwing out a raw sound — a wail, a retch, and now the open-mouthed 哇! of surprise. 圭 guī lends the sound, which here loses its initial and lands far off at wā. The 圭 series runs 桂、掛、封.
故事 STORY — a scene to remember it by
嘴（口）一張，那聲音直接衝出來——哇！
The mouth (口) drops open and the sound comes straight out — wow!
字源記憶法
意 · Meanings
(本義)哇哇— to wail; to retch常用
→哇！— wow! — an exclamation常用
→哇啦哇啦— a clamor of voices
(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension