Definitions

wèi (noun) taste; flavor
wèi (noun) smell; odor
wèi (noun) sense; feeling; quality

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "味" originates from the conceptual pairing of its two components, with the left radical "口" representing the mouth and the right component "未" historically serving a dual phonetic and semantic role, the latter hinting at the notion of something yet to be discerned or explored. Its earliest application was as a verb meaning to taste or to sample, an action directly tied to the mouth's function, which then naturally extended to become the noun for the flavor or taste itself that is perceived through that action. Over time, its meaning broadened further beyond the purely gustatory to encompass abstract qualities, such as the "flavor" or essence of an experience, thought, or artistic style, reflecting a shift from a specific physical sense to a more general metaphor for distinctive character or interest.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

牛奶道很好。

Niúnǎi wèidao hěn hǎo.

Milk tastes very good.

我喜欢甜的道。

Wǒ xǐhuān tián de wèidao.

I like sweet tastes.

这道菜有辣

Zhè dào cài yǒu là wèi.

This dish has a spicy flavor.

他做的菜很有道。

Tā zuò de cài hěn yǒu wèidao.

The dishes he cooks are very flavorful.

生活有各种道。

Shēnghuó yǒu gè zhǒng wèidao.

Life has various flavors.

这种水果的道非常独特。

Zhè zhǒng shuǐguǒ de wèidao fēicháng dútè.

The taste of this fruit is very unique.

通过品尝,我学会了分辨不同的道。

Tōngguò pǐncháng, wǒ xuéhuì le fēnbiàn bùtóng de wèidao.

Through tasting, I learned to distinguish different flavors.

在人生的旅程中,我们都会尝到成功的滋

Zài rénshēng de lǚchéng zhōng, wǒmen dōu huì cháng dào chénggōng de zīwèi.

In the journey of life, we will all taste the flavor of success.