Definitions

wēi to cuddle

Etymology

To cling to someone  in fear  also provides the pronunciation

About

Composed of the person radical and the phonetic element 畏, the character "偎" etymologically conveys the act of drawing close, with its structure highlighting a human action influenced by the sound and perhaps the cautious essence of its right-hand component. Initially denoting mere physical proximity or leaning, its meaning gradually narrowed to encompass the affectionate idea of cuddling or snuggling, a shift that occurred without substantial change to its written form. The consistency in its composition over centuries underscores the stable relationship between its symbolic parts and the evolving nuances of intimacy it has come to represent.

Example Sentences Hide

小猫在我身边。

Xiǎo māo wēi zài wǒ shēn biān.

The kitten snuggles beside me.

孩子依着母亲入睡。

Háizi wēi yī zhe mǔqin rù shuì.

The child snuggles up to the mother and falls asleep.

在寒冷的夜晚,他们在一起取暖。

Zài hánlěng de yèwǎn, tāmen wēi zài yīqǐ qǔ nuǎn.

On cold nights, they snuggle together to keep warm.

傍着丈夫,看着夕阳。

Tā wēi bàng zhe zhàngfu, kàn zhe xīyáng.

She leans close to her husband, watching the sunset.

小狗在主人的脚边,显得很安心。

Xiǎo gǒu wēi zài zhǔrén de jiǎo biān, xiǎn de hěn ān xīn.

The puppy snuggles at the owner's feet, looking very secure.

尽管外面风雨交加,在炉火旁让我们感到舒适。

Jǐnguǎn wàimiàn fēngyǔ jiāojiā, wēi zài lúhuǒ páng ràng wǒmen gǎndào shūshì.

Although it's stormy outside, snuggling by the fireplace makes us feel comfortable.

老人着旧照片,回忆起年轻时的时光。

Lǎorén wēi zhe jiù zhàopiàn, huíyì qǐ niánqīng shí de shíguāng.

The old man snuggles up to the old photo, recalling the time when he was young.

在异国他乡,她着故乡的纪念品,以慰思乡之情。

Zài yìguó tāxiāng, tā wēi zhe gùxiāng de jìniànpǐn, yǐ wèi sīxiāng zhī qíng.

In a foreign land, she snuggles up to souvenirs from her hometown to comfort her homesickness.