伟

偉

wěi

亻 + 韦

Definitions

wěi (adjective) great; mighty

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 亻 represents the meaning and 韦 represents the sound. Simplified form of 偉.

Semantic: 亻 Phonetic: 韦

About

伟 is the simplified form of 偉, a phonosemantic compound. The left side, 亻 (the human radical), indicates that the meaning relates to people or human attributes, while the right side, 韦 (originally a depiction of leather or hide), supplies the sound. In its earliest use, the character described a person of unusually large, robust, or tall physical stature. Over time, the focus moved from physical magnitude to abstract qualities, and today 伟 denotes greatness or exceptional significance, referring to individuals, actions, or concepts that are extraordinary or grand in scale rather than merely physically imposing.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Western Jin dynasty (266-316 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他是一个伟大的人。

Tā shì yīgè wěidà de rén.

He is a great person.

伟大的祖国万岁。

Wěidà de zǔguó wànsuì.

Long live the great motherland.

这座建筑很雄伟。

Zhè zuò jiànzhù hěn xióngwěi.

This building is very majestic.

他的成就非常伟大。

Tā de chéngjiù fēicháng wěidà.

His achievements are very great.

伟人常常有远见。

Wěirén chángcháng yǒu yuǎnjiàn.

Great people often have foresight.

伟业需要大家共同努力。

Wěiyè xūyào dàjiā gòngtóng nǔlì.

Great achievements require everyone's joint efforts.

这项工程规模宏伟。

Zhè xiàng gōngchéng guīmó hóngwěi.

This project has a grand scale.

在历史的长河中，伟人的贡献不可磨灭。

Zài lìshǐ de chánghé zhōng, wěirén de gòngxiàn bùkě mómiè.

In the long river of history, the contributions of great people are indelible.

Related Characters

Component: 亻

Component: 韦

伟