Definitions

huī (verb) to wave; to brandish
huī (verb) to command; to conduct
huī (verb) to scatter; to disperse

Etymology

Simplified form of . Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

About

The character "挥", traditionally written as "揮", combines the hand radical (扌) on the left with the component "軍" (army) on the right, where "軍" functions primarily as a phonetic element while possibly evoking associations with disciplined movement. Its earliest attested meanings centered on physical actions performed by the hand, such as waving, brandishing, or shaking. Over centuries, its semantic range extended from these concrete motions to more figurative uses, including to command, to exert or put into play as in "发挥", and to scatter or squander as in "挥霍". The modern simplified form "挥" substitutes the traditional "軍" with "军", a streamlined version of the same component, preserving the character's basic structural and phonetic logic.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Western Zhou (1045-771 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Jin dynasty (266-316 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

手向我告别。

Tā huīshǒu xiàng wǒ gàobié。

He waved goodbye to me.

孩子们高兴地舞着气球。

Háizimen gāoxìng de huīwǔ zhe qìqiú。

The children happily waved balloons.

他在空中胡乱地拳头。

Tā zài kōngzhōng húluàn de huī le huī quántou。

He randomly waved his fist in the air.

不要随意霍父母的钱。

Bùyào suíyì huīhuò fùmǔ de qián。

Don't squander your parents' money casually.

教练正在指队员们训练。

Jiàoliàn zhèngzài zhǐhuī duìyuánmen xùnliàn。

The coach is directing the team members in training.

他充分发了自己的艺术才华。

Tā chōngfèn fāhuī le zìjǐ de yìshù cáihuá。

He fully utilized his artistic talent.

这幅画洒自如,体现了大师风范。

Zhè fú huà huīsǎ zìrú, tǐxiàn le dàshī fēngfàn。

This painting is executed with a free and effortless style, embodying the manner of a master。

毫泼墨,顷刻间一幅山水画跃然纸上。

Tā huīháo pōmò, qǐngkè jiān yī fú shānshuǐhuà yuèrán zhǐ shàng。

Wielding his brush and splashing ink, a landscape painting appeared on the paper in an instant.