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猬 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
猬wèiporcupine, hedgehog; many, varied; vulgar, lowg, 12 strokes, radical 犭
猬wèihedgehog (family Erinaceidae)unknown, 12 strokes, radical 犭
wèi(wei4) T4
  1. 1porcupine, hedgehog; many, varied; vulgar, low
  2. 2hedgehog (family Erinaceidae)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

猬(蝟)wèi(wei4)

The character 猬 (wèi) primarily refers to a porcupine or hedgehog, animals known for their spiny quills. It can also denote a sense of variety or multitude when used in certain contexts. In specific usages, it can have a vulgar connotation, implying something low or of lesser quality.

Strokes12Radical犭
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese medicine, some believe that parts of the hedgehog can have medicinal properties, making the concept of the hedgehog culturally significant in health discussions.

Memory Tip

Imagine a hedgehog (the animal represented by 猬) curling itself into a ball, its spines resembling the sharp lines of the character. The 'w' sound in 'wèi' can remind you of 'weird' which connects to the quirky appearance of these spiny creatures.

Meanings of 猬

wèi(wei4)
1porcupine, hedgehog; many, varied; vulgar, low
2hedgehog (family Erinaceidae)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 猬

猬Simplified
蝟Traditional
12Strokes
犭Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 猬

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Podcast: 猬

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AI Study Notes for 猬

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include confusing 猬 with similar-sounding characters that do not refer to animals. Register is generally neutral, but be cautious of using it in formal writing where its vulgar connotation could be inappropriate. It is often used in phrases that describe variety.

HSK Study Tips

While 猬 is not part of the standard HSK vocabulary, understanding it can enrich your vocabulary related to animals. Focus on pronunciation, as the correct tones will help distinguish it from other characters with similar sounds.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 猬 with other animal characters like 熊 (xióng, bear) due to similar contexts. Remember, 猬 specifically refers to hedgehogs or porcupines, not bears.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 猬

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Etymology of 猬

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

animal

Semantic (meaning)犭
+
Phonetic (sound)胃
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 猬

  1. 1The meaning half犭 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half胃 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayanimal
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 猬? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 猬?

Decomposition of 猬

IDS Structure⿰犭胃
猬Full Character
=
犭quan3
left
胃wei4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 猬?

How to say porcupine, hedgehog; many, varied; vulgar, low in Chinese

“porcupine, hedgehog; many, varied; vulgar, low” in Chinese is猬wèi

The character 猬 (wèi) primarily refers to a porcupine or hedgehog, animals known for their spiny quills. It can also denote a sense of variety or multitude when used in certain contexts. In specific usages, it can have a vulgar connotation, implying something low or of lesser quality.

When to use 猬

Common mistakes include confusing 猬 with similar-sounding characters that do not refer to animals. Register is generally neutral, but be cautious of using it in formal writing where its vulgar connotation could be inappropriate. It is often used in phrases that describe variety.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 猬 with other animal characters like 熊 (xióng, bear) due to similar contexts. Remember, 猬 specifically refers to hedgehogs or porcupines, not bears.

Write 猬

猬

Practice writing 猬 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 猬

猬 carries 2 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 2

Complete the Sentence

杀人莫敢前,须如____毛磔.

Would slay whoever dared confront Those moustaches that Bristled like porcupinequills.

Example Sentences for 猬 (1)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
杀人莫敢前,须如猬毛磔.

shā rén mò gǎn qián, , xū rú wèi máo.

Would slay whoever dared confront Those moustaches that Bristled like porcupinequills.

Word Family of 猬

Words Containing This Character2
刺猬hedgehog刺蝟
猬wèihedgehog (family Erinaceidae)蝟
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 刺猬 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 猬

猬 specifically refers to hedgehogs and porcupines, while other characters, like 狗 (gǒu) for dog, refer to entirely different animals.

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