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March 24, 2026
畏wèi(wei4)
The character '畏' (wèi) means to fear or to have a sense of dread. It conveys a feeling of awe or reverence, often in contexts where someone respects a force or power, such as nature or authority. Common usage includes expressions of fear regarding significant life events or deep respect for someone or something powerful.
Strokes9Radical田Frequency#14924DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
'畏' is often used in Chinese literature and philosophy to express respect for nature and authority. This reflects a cultural value of harmony with powerful forces, which is deeply rooted in Confucian and Taoist thought.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person standing in front of a gigantic mountain, feeling small and filled with '畏' (wèi) - fear and awe. The character contains the radical for 'field' (田), suggesting the vastness of nature that can inspire both fear and respect.
Meanings of 畏
wèi(wei4)
1to fear
2fear, dread, awe, reverence
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 畏
畏Simplified
9Strokes
田Radical
动语素dòngcíverb root (v.root)Part of Speech
#14924Frequency Rank
Podcast: 畏
Podcast: 畏
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AI Study Notes for 畏
Quick Contrast
惧 (jù) - use '畏' when the fear is coupled with respect or reverence, while '惧' emphasizes a more straightforward fear without that nuance.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse '畏' with '惧' (jù), which also means fear but with a different nuance related to anxiety or fright. '畏' is generally used in more formal or literary contexts. Common collocations include '畏惧' (wèijù) and '畏惧心' (wèijù xīn), which refer to fear or apprehension.
HSK Study Tips
While '畏' is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it's beneficial for learners to connect it with other fear-related words like '害怕' (hàipà) and '惧' (jù). Students should focus on understanding the different contexts in which '畏' is used versus these other terms.
Common Mistakes
Learners often misinterpret '畏' as simply meaning 'fear' without recognizing its nuance of respect or awe. For example, saying '我畏这部电影' (Wǒ wèi zhè bù diànyǐng) may imply a reaction to fear rather than a respectful acknowledgment of its impact.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 畏
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Pictograph of a ghost wielding a stick, which is a fearful sight to behold.
1The giveawayA monster with a scary head 田
2On the record aspictographic — someone drew the thing itself.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 畏? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 畏?
Decomposition of 畏
IDS Structure⿳田一？
畏Full Character
=
田Tian2
top
一yi1
middle
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 畏?
How to say to fear in Chinese
“to fear” in Chinese is畏wèi
The character '畏' (wèi) means to fear or to have a sense of dread. It conveys a feeling of awe or reverence, often in contexts where someone respects a force or power, such as nature or authority. Common usage includes expressions of fear regarding significant life events or deep respect for someone or something powerful.
When to use 畏
Learners often confuse '畏' with '惧' (jù), which also means fear but with a different nuance related to anxiety or fright. '畏' is generally used in more formal or literary contexts. Common collocations include '畏惧' (wèijù) and '畏惧心' (wèijù xīn), which refer to fear or apprehension.
畏 or something close to it
惧 (jù) - use '畏' when the fear is coupled with respect or reverence, while '惧' emphasizes a more straightforward fear without that nuance.
What learners get wrong
Learners often misinterpret '畏' as simply meaning 'fear' without recognizing its nuance of respect or awe. For example, saying '我畏这部电影' (Wǒ wèi zhè bù diànyǐng) may imply a reaction to fear rather than a respectful acknowledgment of its impact.
Write 畏
畏
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Practice writing 畏 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 畏
畏 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 2 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.
