About
The character '纬', traditionally written as '緯', is etymologically derived from the silk radical '糸' indicating thread or textile, combined with the component '韋' which historically provided phonetic cues. Its primary meaning centered on the horizontal weft threads in woven fabric, forming a conceptual pair with '经', the vertical warp threads. This textile-based terminology gradually expanded into the domain of geography, where it came to denote latitude, analogizing the earth's grid to a woven structure. Additionally, within classical Chinese scholarship, the term acquired a metaphorical layer, referring to apocryphal or supplementary texts that were seen as intersecting with and elaborating upon the principal canonical works. The contemporary simplified form retains the silk radical but replaces the traditional '韋' with '韦', streamlining the character while continuing to convey its inherent notions of lateral connection and ancillary alignment.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
这个城市的纬度很高。
纬线指示东西方向。
地图上标有经纬线。
低纬度地区气候炎热。
纺织时纬纱穿过经纱。
地球的纬度影响季节变化。
文化纬度是研究的重要方面。
通过测量恒星高度，可以确定当地的纬度。