Meanings of 委
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About 委
Podcast: 委
Podcast: 委
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AI Study Notes for 委
委托 (wěituō, to entrust) vs 委任 (wěirèn, to appoint) — use 委 (wēi) when emphasizing the act of entrusting responsibility rather than the formal appointment aspect.
Imagine a winding road (representing 委's meaning of 'winding') where a person is entrusting their journey to a guide. The character 委 has a radical for 'woman' (女) on the left, suggesting nurturing or caretaking, and the right side suggests a sense of direction or responsibility.
Be cautious not to confuse 委 with similar-sounding characters. It is typically used in formal contexts, especially regarding delegating tasks or responsibilities. Common collocations include 委托 (wěituō, to entrust) and 委员 (wěiyuán, committee member), and note that it is pronounced with a high flat tone (wēi).
While 委 is not part of the standard HSK vocabulary, its usage can enhance understanding of HSK Level 4 and above terms related to governance or delegation. Focus on its meanings in context and how it appears in phrases involving committees or responsibilities.
In Chinese culture, the concept of 委 is significant in hierarchical relationships, particularly in business and politics, where entrusting someone with responsibility reflects trust and authority.
Learners often confuse 委 with similar characters like 维 (wéi) or 卫 (wèi). For example, using '维托' instead of '委托' is incorrect; the correct phrase is '委托' to mean 'to entrust.'
Pronunciation of 委
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Etymology of 委
Origin unclear.
Decomposition of 委
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 委?
Write 委
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Practice writing 委 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 委
委 carries 16 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Complete the Sentence
这个____员会由十五名成员组成。
This committee is made up of fifteen members.
Common Confusions with 委
Similar pronunciation but different meaning.
Similar pronunciation and shape but different meaning.
Spot the Difference
Which character means "to entrust"?
Example Sentences for 委 (10)
Cultural Notes for 委
In Chinese culture, the concept of 委 is significant in hierarchical relationships, particularly in business and politics, where entrusting someone with responsibility reflects trust and authority.
The concept of entrusting responsibility is prevalent in both cultures, but in Chinese culture, it often emphasizes hierarchical relations, while in Western contexts it may focus on individual accountability.
Word Family of 委
Compound Meaning
What does 矮 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 委
While both 委 (wěi) and 逶 (wēi) are related to winding or curved concepts, 委 primarily refers to delegating or casting aside, whereas 逶 is often used to describe physical winding or meandering shapes. Understanding the context of each character is key to their correct usage.