Definitions

wèi (verb) to comfort; to console; to reassure

Etymology phono-semantic

heart

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The traditional character 慰 is composed of the phonetic component 尉, which itself originally meant to press down or to iron, combined with the heart radical 心, suggesting its meaning relates to a state of mind. This combination initially implied the act of pacifying or bringing calm, with a sense of pressing down distress or agitation. Over time, the character’s application broadened from describing the physical act of soothing to encompassing the more abstract concept of providing psychological comfort and consolation. The core meaning of giving solace or reassurance became central, while the older, more physical connotations of suppressing or pressing down receded from common use.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Cao Wei (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我需要安

Wǒ xūyào ānwèi.

I need comfort.

朋友安了我。

Péngyou ānwèi le wǒ.

My friend comforted me.

音乐是一种藉。

Yīnyuè shì yī zhǒng wèijiè.

Music is a kind of solace.

他们问了灾区人民。

Tāmen wèiwèn le zāiqū rénmín.

They comforted the people in the disaster area.

她的安让我感到温暖。

Tā de ānwèi ràng wǒ gǎndào wēnnuǎn.

Her comfort made me feel warm.

政府问团看望了受灾群众。

Zhèngfǔ wèiwèntuán kànwàng le shòuzāi qúnzhòng.

The government condolence delegation visited the affected masses.

在困难时期,朋友的藉至关重要。

Zài kùnnan shíqī, péngyou de wèijiè zhìguān zhòngyào.

During difficult times, the solace from friends is crucial.

心灵的藉往往比物质上的安更持久。

Xīnlíng de wèijiè wǎngwǎng bǐ wùzhì shàng de ānwèi gèng chíjiǔ.

Spiritual solace often lasts longer than material comfort.