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伟 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
wěibigzg, 6 strokes, radical 亻, rank #9766, Hard
wěilargezg, 6 strokes, radical 亻, rank #9766, Hard
wěigreatzg, 6 strokes, radical 亻, rank #9766, Hard
wěigreat, imposing; extraordinaryzg, 6 strokes, radical 亻, rank #9766, Hard
wěi(wei3) T3
  1. 1big
  2. 2large
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
(偉)wěi(wei3)

The character 伟 (wěi) means great or extraordinary, often used to describe someone or something that is impressive in size or capability. It is commonly used in contexts such as personal achievements, notable figures, or significant contributions to society.

Strokes6RadicalFrequency#9766DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of greatness is often associated with historical figures and leaders, such as 伟人 (wěirén - great person), who are celebrated for their contributions to society and culture.

Memory Tip

Imagine a giant (伟) standing tall, casting a shadow over everything to show its greatness. The character has the radical 伟, which resembles a figure with a broad stance, emphasizing its imposing nature.

Meanings of 伟

wěi(wei3)
1big
2large
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 伟

Simplified
Traditional
6Strokes
Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#9766Frequency Rank

Podcast: 伟

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Podcast:

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AI Study Notes for 伟

Quick Contrast

伟 (wěi) vs 大 (dà) — use 伟 for greatness in capability or significance, while 大 is more about size or extent.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a giant (伟) standing tall, casting a shadow over everything to show its greatness. The character has the radical 伟, which resembles a figure with a broad stance, emphasizing its imposing nature.

Usage Notes

Be cautious not to confuse 伟 with other similar characters like 大 (dà, big) or 巨 (jù, huge), as they convey slightly different nuances. 伟 is more often used in formal contexts, especially in written Chinese, to praise or describe greatness.

HSK Study Tips

While 伟 is not explicitly listed in HSK vocabulary, it can be connected to HSK Level 3 words like 大 (dà) and 好 (hǎo). Focus on using it in sentences that express admiration or describe achievements, such as 伟大的成就 (wěidà de chéngjiù - great achievements).

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of greatness is often associated with historical figures and leaders, such as 伟人 (wěirén - great person), who are celebrated for their contributions to society and culture.

Common Mistakes

Learners often misuse 伟 in casual contexts where simpler terms would suffice. For example, saying '这个车很伟' (This car is great) is awkward; instead, use '这个车很好' (This car is very good).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 伟

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Etymology of 伟

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 亻 represents the meaning and 韦 represents the sound. Simplified form of 偉.

Memory Hint

person

Semantic (meaning)
+
Phonetic (sound)
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 伟?

Decomposition of 伟

IDS Structure⿰亻韦
Full Character
=
ren2
left
Wei2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 伟?

Write 伟

Practice writing stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 伟

伟 carries 4 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 5

Complete the Sentence

他甚至将记录他以前____绩的录像带通通锁起来了。

He had even locked away all the videos of his previous exploits.

Common Confusions with 伟

vs
wéi

Similar pronunciation but different meaning.

Exercise 1 of 1

Spot the Difference

Which character means "big"?

or

Example Sentences for 伟 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
他甚至将记录他以前伟绩的录像带通通锁起来了。

tā shèn zhì jiāng jì lù tā yǐ qián wěi jì de lù xiàng dài tōng tōng suǒ qǐ lái le。

He had even locked away all the videos of his previous exploits.
2
伟大如穆恩者,也有状态起伏的时候。

wěi dà rú mù ēn zhě, , yě yǒu zhuàng tài qǐ fú de shí。

Moon, as great as he is, has had some inconsistent days.
3
那座高大宏伟的建筑耸立在他面前。

nà zuò gāo dà hóng wěi de jiàn zhù sǒng lì zài tā miàn qián。

The building rose before him, tall and stately.
4
那是总统最伟大的成就之一。

nà shì zǒng tǒng zuì wěi dà de chéng jiù zhī yī。

It was one of the President's greatest accomplishments.
5
这座宏伟的教堂一定会让你止步赞叹。

zhè zuò hóng wěi de jiào táng yī dìng huì ràng nǐ zhǐ bù zàn tàn。

This magnificent church cannot fail to stop you in your tracks.
6
她的文学批评集中关注的是伟大的文学作品表达思想的方式。

tā de wén xué pī píng jí zhōng guān zhù de shì wěi dà de wén xué zuò pǐn biǎo dá sī xiǎng de fāng shì。

Her literary criticism focuses on the way great literature suggests ideas.
7
所有人都知道缪里尔命中注定要成就一番伟业。

suǒ yǒu rén dū zhī dào móu lǐ ěr mìng zhōng zhù dìng yào chéng jiù yī fān wěi yè。

Everyone knew that Muriel was destined for great things.
8
谁能否认他是世界上最伟大的大提琴演奏家呢?

shuí néng fǒu rèn tā shì shì jiè shàng zuì wěi dà de dà tí qín yǎn zòu jiā ne?

Who can deny his stature as the world's greatest cellist?
9
他是橄榄球场历史上最伟大的四分卫。

tā shì gǎn lǎn qiú cháng lì shǐ shàng zuì wěi dà de sì fēn wèi。

He is the greatest quarterback in gridiron history.
10
雄伟的长江滚滚东流.

xióng wěi de cháng jiāng gǔn gǔn dōng liú.

The waters of the Changjiang River rolled to the east on majestically.

Cultural Notes for 伟

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, the concept of greatness is often associated with historical figures and leaders, such as 伟人 (wěirén - great person), who are celebrated for their contributions to society and culture.

Word Family of 伟

Words Containing This Character15
伟大wěidàhuge偉大
wěibig
宏伟hóngwěigrand宏偉
伟人great person偉人
雄伟xióngwěigrand雄偉
伟哥Viagra (male impotence drug)偉哥
伟业exploit偉業
杨利伟Yang Liwei (1965-), astronaut, first Chinese citizen in space楊利偉
丰功伟绩glorious achievement (idiom)豐功偉績
大伟David (name)大偉
伟岸imposing偉岸
伟力mighty force偉力
魁伟tall and big魁偉
伟丽magnificent偉麗
伟绩great acts偉績
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 伟大 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 伟

Some synonyms for 伟 (wěi) include 大 (dà), which means 'big,' and 重大 (zhòngdà), which means 'important' or 'significant.' These words can often be used interchangeably depending on the context.