About
The character 韪 (wěi), the simplified form of 韙, is a phono-semantic compound. Its semantic component 是 (shì), meaning "correct" or "right", provides the core definition. The enveloping component 韦 (wéi), simplified from 韋 (which originally depicted tanned leather or a guard), serves as the phonetic element indicating pronunciation but does not contribute to the modern meaning. 韪 means "right", "proper", or "correct", and is a highly literary term seldom used in everyday language, appearing mainly in classical texts or idioms like 冒天下之大不韪 (mào tiānxià zhī dà bù wěi), meaning to risk universal condemnation by committing a grave error.
Etymology Hide
