围

圍

wéi

囗 + 韦

HSK 3.0Level 5

Frequency#576

Definitions

wéi (verb) to surround; to encircle

wéi (verb) to wrap around (as clothing)

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 囗 represents the meaning and 韦 represents the sound.

Semantic: 囗 Phonetic: 韦

About

The character "围" originates from its traditional form "圍", which combines the semantic enclosure radical "囗" with the phonetic component "韋", the latter contributing both sound and connotations of wrapping or encircling. Initially denoting the action of surrounding or besieging, its meaning expanded to include nominal uses such as a siege perimeter or any defined enclosed area. The simplified form "围" maintains this structure with "囗" and the simplified phonetic "韦", while the core concept of encirclement has consistently applied to various contexts of boundaries or confinement over time.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我们围坐在火堆旁。

Wǒmen wéizuò zài huǒduī páng.

We sit around the campfire.

她围着一条红色的围巾。

Tā wéizhe yī tiáo hóngsè de wéijīn.

She is wearing a red scarf.

他们围成了一个圈。

Tāmen wéichéngle yīgè quān.

They formed a circle.

公园被树木包围着。

Gōngyuán bèi shùmù bāowéizhe.

The park is surrounded by trees.

围墙很高，我们进不去。

Wéiqiáng hěn gāo, wǒmen jìn bù qù.

The wall is very high, we can't get in.

在讨论中，大家围绕主题发言。

Zài tǎolùn zhōng, dàjiā wéirào zhǔtí fāyán.

During the discussion, everyone spoke around the topic.

这个问题围绕着许多争议。

Zhège wèntí wéiràozhe xǔduō zhēngyì.

This issue revolves around many controversies.

敌军被彻底包围了。

Díjūn bèi chèdǐ bāowéile.

The enemy troops were completely encircled.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 囗

Component: 韦

围