违

違

wéi

辶 + 韦

Definitions

wéi (verb) to disobey; to violate

wéi (verb) to go against

wéi (verb) to separate

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 辶 represents the meaning and 韦 represents the sound. Simplified form of 違.

Semantic: 辶 Phonetic: 韦

About

The character 违 is a phono-semantic compound. Its traditional form 違 combines the semantic movement radical 辶 with the phonetic component 韋 (dressed leather), originally indicating physical parting or separation. From this sense of divergence, its meaning expanded to abstract concepts like going against, disobeying, or violating rules. The simplified form 违 retains the radical 辶 while replacing 韋 with 韦, continuing to convey deviation or opposition to an expected standard.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

不要违反规则。

Bù yào wéifǎn guīzé.

Don't break the rules.

他的行为违反了法律。

Tā de xíngwéi wéifǎnle fǎlǜ.

His actions violated the law.

你不能违背自己的承诺。

Nǐ bùnéng wéibèi zìjǐ de chéngnuò.

You cannot go back on your own promise.

违抗命令会受到处罚。

Wéikàng mìnglìng huì shòudào chǔfá.

Disobeying orders will result in punishment.

他的做法违背了基本原则。

Tā de zuòfǎ wéibèile jīběn yuánzé.

His approach contravenes the basic principles.

这项规定不得违反环境保护法。

Zhè xiàng guīdìng bùdé wéifǎn huánjìng bǎohù fǎ.

This regulation must not violate the Environmental Protection Law.

双方均不得无故违约。

Shuāngfāng jūn bùdé wúgù wéiyuē.

Neither party shall breach the contract without cause.

他宁愿辞职也不愿违背自己的良心。

Tā nìngyuàn cízhí yě bùyuàn wéibèi zìjǐ de liángxīn.

He would rather resign than go against his own conscience.

Related Characters

Component: 辶

Component: 韦

违