Definitions

wèi (verb) to guard; to protect; to defend
wèi (noun) hygiene; health
wèi (noun) toilet

Etymology

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

About

The character "卫" originates from the traditional form "衛", which structurally combined the radical "行", denoting movement or a crossroads, with "韋", a component that may have served a phonetic role or reinforced the concept of encircling, thereby visually conveying the idea of patrols or defensive boundaries. This composition aligned with its initial meanings related to guarding, protecting, and maintaining security around a defined area. Across historical periods, the semantic range of the character extended from these concrete martial and territorial applications to more abstract notions of preservation and vigilant care, evident in later lexical formations such as "卫生" referring to hygiene. The simplified "卫" emerged as a condensed graphical form, stripping away the original components while retaining the core conceptual associations with defense and safeguarding.

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

我们要讲生。

Wǒmen yào jiǎng wèishēng.

We should pay attention to hygiene.

他保了自己的家园。

Tā bǎowèi le zìjǐ de jiāyuán.

He defended his homeland.

这颗星环绕地球飞行。

Zhè kē wèixīng huánrǎo dìqiú fēixíng.

This satellite orbits the Earth.

增强防能力很重要。

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.