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巍 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
巍wēihigh, lofty; eminent, majesticnr, 20 strokes, radical 山
巍wēitoweringunknown, 20 strokes, radical 山
巍wēiTaiwan pr. [wei2]unknown, 20 strokes, radical 山
wēi(wei1) T1
  1. 1high, lofty; eminent, majestic
  2. 2towering
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March 24, 2026

巍wēi(wei1)

The character 巍 (wēi) means 'high' or 'lofty' and conveys a sense of majesty or prominence. It is often used to describe mountains or structures that are towering and impressive. In literary contexts, it can also refer to individuals of high status or achievement.

Strokes20Radical山
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, mountains symbolize stability and strength, and the use of 巍 often evokes feelings of respect and admiration. The majestic portrayal of mountains in traditional poetry reflects the value placed on nature's grandeur.

Memory Tip

Imagine a tall and majestic mountain standing proudly against the sky. The character 巍 resembles a mountain peak, with its sharp top representing height. The pronunciation 'wēi' can remind you of the English word 'way,' as in 'the way up to the mountain.'

Meanings of 巍

wēi(wei1)
1high, lofty; eminent, majestic
2towering
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 巍

巍Simplified
20Strokes
山Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 巍

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Podcast: 巍

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AI Study Notes for 巍

Quick Contrast

高 (gāo) - use 巍 (wēi) when emphasizing majesty or grandeur, while 高 (gāo) is more general for height.

Usage Notes

Use 巍 in both formal and literary contexts, particularly when describing impressive natural landscapes or esteemed individuals. Be cautious of tone, as mispronouncing it with the second tone (wei2) can change its meaning entirely. Common collocations include 巍峨 (wēi'é), meaning 'towering' or 'majestic.'

HSK Study Tips

Although 巍 is not part of the standard HSK levels, it connects with vocabulary related to nature and descriptions. Students should focus on recognizing its usage in literary texts, which often employ elevated language and imagery.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 巍 with similar-sounding characters and may mistakenly use it inappropriately in casual conversation. For example, using it to describe everyday objects instead of majestic ones is incorrect; instead, use it for mountains or grand structures.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 巍

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Etymology of 巍

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

Phonosemantic compound. 山 represents the meaning and 魏 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

mountain

Semantic (meaning)山
+
Phonetic (sound)魏
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

巍 = 山 + 魏. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 巍

IDS Structure⿱山魏
巍Full Character
=
山Shan1
top
魏Wei4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 巍?

How to say high, lofty; eminent, majestic in Chinese

“high, lofty; eminent, majestic” in Chinese is巍wēi

The character 巍 (wēi) means 'high' or 'lofty' and conveys a sense of majesty or prominence. It is often used to describe mountains or structures that are towering and impressive. In literary contexts, it can also refer to individuals of high status or achievement.

When to use 巍

Use 巍 in both formal and literary contexts, particularly when describing impressive natural landscapes or esteemed individuals. Be cautious of tone, as mispronouncing it with the second tone (wei2) can change its meaning entirely. Common collocations include 巍峨 (wēi'é), meaning 'towering' or 'majestic.'

巍 or something close to it

高 (gāo) - use 巍 (wēi) when emphasizing majesty or grandeur, while 高 (gāo) is more general for height.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 巍 with similar-sounding characters and may mistakenly use it inappropriately in casual conversation. For example, using it to describe everyday objects instead of majestic ones is incorrect; instead, use it for mountains or grand structures.

Write 巍

巍

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

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Grammar Patterns of 巍

巍 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 3

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

他的演说很难听懂,他的签名颤颤____巍地无法识别。

His speech was difficult to understand, his signature shaky and unrecognizable.

Example Sentences for 巍 (3)

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1
他的演说很难听懂,他的签名颤颤巍巍地无法识别。

tā de yǎn shuō hěn nán tīng dǒng, , tā de qiān míng chàn chàn wēi wēi dì wú fǎ shí。

His speech was difficult to understand, his signature shaky and unrecognizable.
2
颤巍巍的签名是用绿墨水写的.

chàn wēi wēi de qiān míng shì yòng lǜ mò shuǐ xiě de.

The shaky signature was in green ink.
3
她颤巍巍地由床边挪到梳妆台前。

tā chàn wēi wēi dì yóu chuáng biān nuó dào shū zhuāng tái qián。

She pulled herself unsteadily from the bed to the dresser.

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Word Family of 巍

Words Containing This Character10
巍wēilofty
巍然majestic
巍峨lofty
巍巍towering
颤巍巍trembling顫巍巍
巍然屹立towering majestically
魏巍Wei Wei (1920-2008), novelist and poet, author of award-winning novel The East 東方|东方 about the Korean war
崔巍tall
巍山县Weishan Yi and Hui autonomous county in Dali Bai autonomous prefecture 大理白族自治州[Dà​lǐ​Bái​zú​zì​zhì​zhōu], Yunnan巍山縣
巍山彝族回族自治县Weishan Yi and Hui autonomous county in Dali Bai autonomous prefecture 大理白族自治州[Dà​lǐ​Bái​zú​zì​zhì​zhōu], Yunnan巍山彞族回族自治縣
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 巍

What does 巍然 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 巍

The character 巍 is pronounced as 'wēi' with a high level tone.

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