卫

衛

wèi

一 + 丨 + 𠃌

Definitions

wèi (verb) to guard; to protect; to defend

wèi (noun) hygiene; health

wèi (noun) toilet

Etymology

Simplified from 衛. Phonosemantic compound. 行 represents the meaning and 韋 represents the sound. The 行 component was deleted for simplification.

About

卫 is a character meaning 'to guard' or 'defense'. Its traditional form 衛 is a phono-semantic compound: the semantic component 行 (movement, walking) encloses the phonetic component 韋, suggesting guards patrolling a perimeter. Historically, it denoted military defense, garrisons, border protection, and the safeguarding of rulers or territory. The simplified character 卫 was created by deleting the surrounding 行 and retaining a modified fragment of the inner component, drastically reducing the stroke count. Today, the core meaning of protection remains, extending to health protection and planetary satellites.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

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 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)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我们要讲卫生。

Wǒmen yào jiǎng wèishēng.

We should pay attention to hygiene.

他保卫了自己的家园。

Tā bǎowèi le zìjǐ de jiāyuán.

He defended his homeland.

这颗卫星环绕地球飞行。

Zhè kē wèixīng huánrǎo dìqiú fēixíng.

This satellite orbits the Earth.

增强防卫能力很重要。

Zēngqiáng fángwèi nénglì hěn zhòngyào.

Strengthening defense capabilities is important.

他立志成为一名忠诚的卫士。

Tā lìzhì chéngwéi yī míng zhōngchéng de wèishì.

He aspires to become a loyal guard.

这个国家拥有自己的卫星导航系统。

Zhège guójiā yōngyǒu zìjǐ de wèixīng dǎoháng xìtǒng.

This country has its own satellite navigation system.

士兵们英勇地守卫着边境线。

Shìbīngmen yīngyǒng de shǒuwèi zhe biānjìngxiàn.

The soldiers are bravely guarding the border.

环境保护是每个人都应尽的义务。

Huánjìng bǎohù shì měi gè rén dōu yīng jìn de yìwù.

Environmental protection is an obligation that everyone should fulfill.

Related Characters

Component: 一

Component: 丨

Component: 𠃌

Example Words