Definitions

Wèi (noun) name of ancient Chinese state; Wei dynasty (220-265)
wèi (noun) tower over palace gateway

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character 魏, structured with the components 委 and 鬼 in its traditional form, etymologically traces back to concepts of height and grandeur, initially describing tall edifices or terraces in early Chinese texts. Over time, its application shifted from architectural terminology to become the name of a significant Warring States period state, Wei, and subsequently a common surname derived from that polity. While the visual composition has persisted unchanged, the semantic journey of the character illustrates a transition from concrete physical attributes to more abstract associations with political power and familial identity, with the 鬼 element often interpreted as contributing a notion of form or spirit rather than a literal ghostly reference.

Example Sentences Hide

国在历史上很重要。

Wèi guó zài lìshǐ shàng hěn zhòngyào.

The state of Wei is very important in history.

晋时期有很多文人。

Wèi Jìn shíqī yǒu hěnduō wénrén.

There were many literati during the Wei and Jin period.

曹操建立了国。

Cáo Cāo jiànlì le Wèi guó.

Cao Cao established the state of Wei.

国的首都曾经是洛阳。

Wèi guó de shǒudū céngjīng shì Luòyáng.

The capital of Wei was once Luoyang.

在三国演义中,国是其中之一。

Zài Sānguó Yǎnyì zhōng, Wèi guó shì qízhōng zhī yī.

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Wei is one of them.

文帝曹丕是朝的开国皇帝。

Wèi Wén Dì Cáo Pī shì Wèi cháo de kāiguó huángdì.

Emperor Wen of Wei, Cao Pi, was the founding emperor of the Wei dynasty.

和东都是南北朝时期的政权。

Běi Wèi hé Dōng Wèi dōu shì Nánběi Cháo shíqī de zhèngquán.

Northern Wei and Eastern Wei were both regimes during the Northern and Southern Dynasties period.

徵是唐代著名的政治家,以直言敢谏著称。

Wèi Zhēng shì Táng dài zhùmíng de zhèngzhìjiā, yǐ zhíyán gǎn jiàn zhùchēng.

Wei Zheng was a famous politician of the Tang Dynasty, known for his outspoken advice.