Definitions

wéi (verb) to surround; to encircle
wéi (verb) to wrap around (as clothing)

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character '围', with its traditional form '圍', is etymologically constructed from the enclosure radical '囗' and the component '韦', which originally provided phonetic guidance. Its primary meaning has persistently involved notions of surrounding or creating an enclosure, beginning with literal applications such as encircling walls or defensive perimeters. This conceptual base gradually broadened to encompass abstract forms of encirclement, including tactical maneuvers in warfare or figurative boundaries, yet the character's structural integrity, with the outer radical symbolizing a confined area, has ensured its semantic stability across historical usage.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 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)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我们坐在火堆旁。

Wǒmen wéizuò zài huǒduī páng.

We sit around the campfire.

着一条红色的巾。

Tā wéizhe yī tiáo hóngsè de wéijīn.

She is wearing a red scarf.

他们成了一个圈。

Tāmen wéichéngle yīgè quān.

They formed a circle.

公园被树木包着。

Gōngyuán bèi shùmù bāowéizhe.

The park is surrounded by trees.

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,大家绕主题发言。

Zài tǎolùn zhōng, dàjiā wéirào zhǔtí fāyán.

During the discussion, everyone spoke around the topic.

这个问题绕着许多争议。

Zhège wèntí wéiràozhe xǔduō zhēngyì.

This issue revolves around many controversies.

敌军被彻底包了。

Díjūn bèi chèdǐ bāowéile.

The enemy troops were completely encircled.