Definitions

wěi reed; rush; Phragmites communis

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character 苇 is a phono-semantic compound. Its semantic component is the grass radical 艹, which indicates the botanical category. Its phonetic component is 韦 (from the traditional form 韋 in 葦). The character refers to tall marsh grasses, especially common reeds found in wetlands and along riverbanks. Historically, this specific plant has been harvested for practical uses like weaving mats, building windbreaks, and thatching roofs, firmly grounding its meaning in agricultural and material contexts.

Etymology Hide

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

Example Sentences Hide

湖边长满了芦

Hú biān zhǎng mǎn le lú wěi.

The lakeside is overgrown with reeds.

在风中摇曳。

Lú wěi zài fēng zhōng yáo yè.

Reeds sway in the wind.

这片芦荡很美丽。

Zhè piàn lú wěi dàng hěn měi lì.

This reed marsh is very beautiful.

鸟儿在芦丛中栖息。

Niǎo er zài lú wěi cóng zhōng qī xī.

Birds perch in the reed bushes.

我们用芦编织了席子。

Wǒ men yòng lú wěi biān zhī le xí zi.

We woven a mat with reeds.

秋天时,芦变得枯黄。

Qiū tiān shí, lú wěi biàn de kū huáng.

In autumn, reeds become dry and yellow.

茂密的芦沿着河岸生长。

Mào mì de lú wěi yán zhe hé àn shēng zhǎng.

Dense reeds grow along the riverbank.

环境保护者致力于保护芦湿地生态系统。

Huán jìng bǎo hù zhě zhì lì yú bǎo hù lú wěi shī dì shēng tài xì tǒng.

Environmentalists are committed to protecting the reed wetland ecosystem.