A data symbol transmission method and a wireless network device are provided. The device includes: an information determining unit, configured to determine a location at which hardware switching needs to be performed in a current subframe and switching time of the hardware switching; a configuration unit, configured to configure, according to the switching time, a first guard period for a first data symbol corresponding to the location, where a length of the first guard period is greater than or equal to that of the switching time; where the configuration unit is further configured to: use, as a second data symbol, a data symbol in the subframe other than the first data symbol, and configure a second guard period for the second data symbol; and a sending unit, configured to send the subframe to another wireless network device. Resource utilization can be improved, and a system capacity can be increased.