Definitions

wěi (verb) to entrust; to delegate
wěi (noun) committee; committee member

Etymology

Depicts grain () in a bent shape (𠃊).

About

The character "委" structurally combines the components "禾" representing grain or plant and "女" representing woman, with this configuration implying an original conception of bending or yielding. Etymologically, this sense extended to early meanings involving entrusting or appointing, as in submitting to another's authority, and from this core its semantic field broadened to include ideas of accumulation, as in gathered supplies, and subsequently to states of decline or weariness. In contemporary usage, it contributes to compounds such as 委托, meaning to entrust, and 委屈, denoting a feeling of being wronged.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Warring States (~250 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)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

托朋友帮忙。

Wǒ wěituō péngyou bāngmáng.

I entrusted a friend to help.

他是员会的成员。

Tā shì wěiyuánhuì de chéngyuán.

He is a member of the committee.

她感到非常屈。

Tā gǎndào fēicháng wěiqū.

She felt very wronged.

婉地拒绝了邀请。

Tā wěiwǎn de jùjué le yāoqǐng.

He tactfully declined the invitation.

公司派他去出差。

Gōngsī wěipài tā qù chūchāi.

The company assigned him to go on a business trip.

总统任了新部长。

Zǒngtǒng wěirèn le xīn bùzhǎng.

The president appointed a new minister.

这件事实令人惊讶。

Zhè jiàn shì wěishí lìng rén jīngyà.

This matter is truly surprising.

经过员会慎重讨论,决定派专家小组调查此事。

Jīngguò wěiyuánhuì shènzhòng tǎolùn, juédìng wěipài zhuānjiā xiǎozǔ diàochá cǐ shì.

After careful discussion by the committee, it was decided to send a panel of experts to investigate this matter.