苇

葦

wěi

艹 + 韦

Definitions

wěi reed; rush; Phragmites communis

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 韦 represents the sound. Simplified form of 葦.

Semantic: 艹 Phonetic: 韦

About

苇 is a phono-semantic compound: the grass radical 艹 gives the general meaning of a plant, while 韦 (wěi) indicates the sound. It is the simplified form of 葦, which used the traditional phonetic 韋. The character refers to reeds and tall, stiff marsh grasses that grow in wetlands and along riverbanks. Historically, these plants were harvested for weaving mats, building windbreaks, and thatching roofs, tying the character's meaning closely to practical, everyday life.

Etymology Hide

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

湖边长满了芦苇。

Hú biān zhǎng mǎn le lú wěi.

The lakeside is overgrown with reeds.

芦苇在风中摇曳。

Lú wěi zài fēng zhōng yáo yè.

Reeds sway in the wind.

这片芦苇荡很美丽。

Zhè piàn lú wěi dàng hěn měi lì.

This reed marsh is very beautiful.

鸟儿在芦苇丛中栖息。

Niǎo er zài lú wěi cóng zhōng qī xī.

Birds perch in the reed bushes.

我们用芦苇编织了席子。

Wǒ men yòng lú wěi biān zhī le xí zi.

We woven a mat with reeds.

秋天时，芦苇变得枯黄。

Qiū tiān shí, lú wěi biàn de kū huáng.

In autumn, reeds become dry and yellow.

茂密的芦苇沿着河岸生长。

Mào mì de lú wěi yán zhe hé àn shēng zhǎng.

Dense reeds grow along the riverbank.

环境保护者致力于保护芦苇湿地生态系统。

Huán jìng bǎo hù zhě zhì lì yú bǎo hù lú wěi shī dì shēng tài xì tǒng.

Environmentalists are committed to protecting the reed wetland ecosystem.

Related Characters

Component: 艹

Component: 韦

苇