About
The character 薇, whose traditional form is identical to its simplified version, is etymologically linked to a type of fern known as Osmunda or, more broadly, to delicate edible wild plants. Its structure is a semantic-phonetic compound, combining the grass radical (艹) at the top to indicate its botanical nature with the component 微 below, which primarily provides phonetic clues but also contributes a nuance of something small or subtle. Historically, its core meaning has consistently referred to this specific family of plants, yet its usage expanded into literary and poetic contexts to symbolize qualities of simplicity, humble sustenance, and a retreat from worldly grandeur, as seen in classical allusions to gathering and consuming wild herbs. This semantic layer, evoking a modest and rustic life, remains attached to the character alongside its direct botanical reference, demonstrating how its compositional elements supported both a concrete definition and a more abstract, associative meaning.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我喜欢蔷薇花。
小薇是我的朋友。
蔷薇在春天开花。
她摘了一朵蔷薇。
薇字常用于女孩名字。
这束蔷薇花非常美丽。
蔷薇的香气弥漫在空气中。
她用心照料花园里的蔷薇。