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慰 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
wèito comfortv, 15 strokes, radical 心, rank #8643, Hard
wèito consolev, 15 strokes, radical 心, rank #8643, Hard
wèito reassurev, 15 strokes, radical 心, rank #8643, Hard
wèito calm, to comfort, to reassurev, 15 strokes, radical 心, rank #8643, Hard
wèi(wei4) T4
  1. 1to comfort
  2. 2to console
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
wèi(wei4)

The character 慰 (wèi) means to comfort or console someone in times of distress or sadness. It is commonly used in contexts where emotional support is offered, such as during a loss or a difficult situation. This term conveys a sense of reassurance and care.

Strokes15RadicalFrequency#8643DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, offering comfort is considered a vital social practice, especially during mourning periods or when friends face hardships. The concept of 慰 aligns with the cultural emphasis on community and support for one another.

Memory Tip

Imagine a caring friend with a warm heart (心, xīn) who is always ready to embrace (慰, wèi) you when you're feeling down. The heart radical suggests compassion, while the rest of the character flows like a comforting gesture.

Meanings of 慰

wèi(wei4)
1to comfort
2to console
Exercise 1 of 3

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 慰

Simplified
15Strokes
Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#8643Frequency Rank

Podcast: 慰

JasonAmy

Podcast:

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 慰

Quick Contrast

安慰 (ān wèi) vs 慰藉 (wèi jiè) — use 慰 when referring specifically to the act of comforting someone directly, while 安慰 is more general and can imply a broader sense of reassurance.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a caring friend with a warm heart (心, xīn) who is always ready to embrace (慰, wèi) you when you're feeling down. The heart radical suggests compassion, while the rest of the character flows like a comforting gesture.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 慰 (wèi) with similar-sounding words like 魏 (wèi), which is a proper noun. This verb is generally used in more formal contexts, especially when discussing emotional support. Common collocations include 慰问 (wèiwèn) meaning to express condolences.

HSK Study Tips

Although 慰 is not included in the HSK levels, it is relevant for learners aiming for advanced conversational skills. Focus on its usage in phrases related to emotional support, which can enhance your ability to discuss sensitive topics.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, offering comfort is considered a vital social practice, especially during mourning periods or when friends face hardships. The concept of 慰 aligns with the cultural emphasis on community and support for one another.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 慰 (wèi) with 安慰 (ānwèi), both meaning to comfort but used in slightly different contexts. For instance, saying '我想慰他' is incorrect; it should be '我想安慰他' for a more natural expression.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 慰

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Etymology of 慰

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

heart

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 慰?

Decomposition of 慰

IDS Structure⿱尉心
Full Character
=
Wei4
top
xin1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 慰?

Write 慰

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

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Grammar Patterns of 慰

慰 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

“你真的不说吗?”她问道,乞求得到安____。

"You really won't tell?" she asked, begging for reassurance.

Common Confusions with 慰

vs
wěi

Similar sound but different meaning.

vs
wèi

Similar pronunciation and structure, but different meaning.

Exercise 1 of 1

Spot the Difference

Which character means "to comfort"?

or

Example Sentences for 慰 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
“你真的不说吗?”她问道,乞求得到安慰。

“ “ nǐ zhēn de bù shuō?” ma ?” tā, wèn dào , qǐ qiú dé。

"You really won't tell?" she asked, begging for reassurance.
2
我母亲刚去世,我从这本书中获取了不少慰藉。

wǒ mǔ qīn gāng qù shì, , wǒ cóng zhè běn shū zhōng huò qǔ le bù shǎo wèi。

My mother had just died and I found the book very comforting.
3
他开始以那种少有的温柔安慰我。

tā kāi shǐ yǐ nà zhǒng shǎo yǒu de wēn róu ān wèi wǒ。

He began to comfort me with such unaccustomed gentleness.
4
意大利肉酱面是绝好的安慰食物。

yì dà lì ròu jiàng miàn shì jué hǎo de ān wèi shí wù。

For me, spaghetti bolognese is the ultimate comfort food.
5
“现在好了,”他安慰说。

“ “ xiàn zài hǎo,” le ,” tā ān。

"It's okay now," he said reassuringly.
6
看到这么好的结果真令人欣慰。

kàn dào zhè mó hǎo de jié guǒ zhēn líng rén xīn wèi。

It is gratifying to see such good results.
7
看到有些罪犯还有良知让人感到欣慰。

kàn dào yǒu xiē zuì fàn huán yǒu liáng zhī ràng rén gǎn dào xīn wèi。

It's pleasing to see some criminals have a conscience.
8
他会把她揽在怀中抚慰她。

tā huì bǎ tā lǎn zài huái zhōng fǔ wèi tā。

He would take her in his arms and soothe her.
9
约翰不断安慰我说,我们注定要在一起。

yuē hàn bù duàn ān wèi wǒ shuō, , wǒ mén zhù dìng yào zài yī。

John was constantly reassuring me that we were meant to be together.
10
我对所有的亲人表示由衷的慰问。

wǒ duì suǒ yǒu de qīn rén biǎo shì yóu zhōng de wèi wèn。

My heartfelt sympathy goes out to all the relatives.

Cultural Notes for 慰

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, offering comfort is considered a vital social practice, especially during mourning periods or when friends face hardships. The concept of 慰 aligns with the cultural emphasis on community and support for one another.

Word Family of 慰

Words Containing This Character17
安慰ānwèito comfort
欣慰xīnwèito be gratified
慰问wèiwènto express sympathy, greetings, consolation etc慰問
wèito comfort
抚慰to console撫慰
慰藉to console
宽慰to console寬慰
慰安妇comfort woman慰安婦
自慰onanism
慰劳wèiláoto comfort慰勞
安慰剂placebo安慰劑
劝慰to console勸慰
快慰to feel pleased
安慰奖booby prize安慰獎
聊以自慰to find relief in
慰唁to console
吊慰to offer condolences弔慰
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 安慰 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 慰

You can say '我想要慰问他' (Wǒ xiǎng yào wèiwèn tā), meaning 'I want to comfort him.'