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March 24, 2026
维(維)wéi(Wei2)
The character 维 (wéi) primarily means 'to maintain' or 'to preserve.' It is often used in contexts related to holding things together, preserving relationships, or maintaining certain standards. Additionally, it serves as an abbreviation for '维吾尔' (Uighur), adding a cultural dimension to its usage.
Strokes11Radical纟Frequency#1933DifficultyMedium
Cultural note
The character 维 is linked to the Uighur people, an ethnic minority in China, highlighting the importance of cultural preservation in Chinese society. It reflects the broader significance of maintaining cultural identity amidst globalization.
Memory tip
Imagine a strong vine (维) holding together various branches of a tree, symbolizing maintenance and connection. The character's structure includes the radical for 'thread' (纟), suggesting the idea of binding or weaving things together, which aligns with its meaning of preservation.
Meanings of 维
wéi(Wei2)
1to preserve
2to maintain
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 维
维Simplified
維Traditional
11Strokes
纟Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#1933Frequency Rank
Podcast: 维
Podcast: 维
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AI study notes for 维
Quick Contrast
维护 (wéihù) vs 维持 (wéichí) — choose 维 for contexts emphasizing preservation or maintenance of standards rather than ongoing support or sustenance.
Usage Notes
When using 维, be mindful of context; it often appears in formal settings or technical discussions. Common collocations include 维持 (wéi chí - to maintain) and 维系 (wéi xì - to maintain a connection). A common mistake is confusing 维 with similar sounding characters; remember that 维 emphasizes togetherness.
HSK Study Tips
While 维 is not explicitly listed in HSK levels, it connects with vocabulary related to maintenance and preservation, which appear in lower levels. Focus on its collocations and how it combines with other characters to express complex ideas.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 维 with 维持 (wéi chí) and forget to use it in appropriate contexts. For example, saying '我维维持这个关系' (Wǒ wéi wéi chí zhège guānxì) is incorrect; the correct form is simply '我维持这个关系' (Wǒ wéi chí zhège guānxì).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 维
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维 = 纟 + 隹. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 维
IDS Structure⿰纟隹
维Full character
=
纟si1
left
隹zhui1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 维?
How to say to preserve in Chinese
“to preserve” in Chinese is维wéi
The character 维 (wéi) primarily means 'to maintain' or 'to preserve.' It is often used in contexts related to holding things together, preserving relationships, or maintaining certain standards. Additionally, it serves as an abbreviation for '维吾尔' (Uighur), adding a cultural dimension to its usage.
When to use 维
When using 维, be mindful of context; it often appears in formal settings or technical discussions. Common collocations include 维持 (wéi chí - to maintain) and 维系 (wéi xì - to maintain a connection). A common mistake is confusing 维 with similar sounding characters; remember that 维 emphasizes togetherness.
维 or something close to it
维护 (wéihù) vs 维持 (wéichí) — choose 维 for contexts emphasizing preservation or maintenance of standards rather than ongoing support or sustenance.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 维 with 维持 (wéi chí) and forget to use it in appropriate contexts. For example, saying '我维维持这个关系' (Wǒ wéi wéi chí zhège guānxì) is incorrect; the correct form is simply '我维持这个关系' (Wǒ wéi chí zhège guānxì).
Write 维
维
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Grammar patterns of 维
维 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 9 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.
Add pasta to your salads to bump up your fibre intake.
4
亲爱的内维尔，我真太为你高兴了。
qīnài de nèi wéi ěr， wǒ zhēn tài wèi nǐ gāoxìng le。
Darling Neville, I couldn't be more pleased for you.
5
你不得不对她维护正义的勇气竖起大拇指。
nǐ bùdébù duì tā wéihù zhèngyì de yǒngqì shù qǐ dà mǔzhǐ。
You have to give her top marks for moral guts.
6
该行为公然违背了《维也纳公约》。
gāi xíngwéi gōngrán wéibèi le《 wéi yě nà gōngyuē》。
The action is an open violation of the Vienna Convention.
7
喝下午茶的时候，维多利亚与其夫君艾伯特亲王表演了二重唱。
hē xiàwǔ chá de shíhou， wéi duō lì yà yǔqí fū jūn ài bà tè qīn wáng biǎoyǎn le èr zhòng chàng。
At tea-time, Victoria sang duets with her Consort, Prince Albert.
8
镇上老码头区多年来疏于维护,快要塌陷了.
zhèn shàng lǎo mǎtóu Ōu duōniánlái shū yú wéihù, kuàiyào tā xiàn le.
The town's old quayside is collapsing after years of neglect.
9
戴维斯落后了差不多两秒，获得第三名。
dài wéi Sī luòhòu le chàbuduō liǎng miǎo， huòdé dì sān míng。
Davies finished almost two seconds in arrears for third place.
10
我用完善后的技术摘掉了纤维瘤。
wǒ yòng wánshàn hòu de jìshù zhāi diào le xiānwéi liú。
I removed the fibroid tumours, using the techniques that I have perfected.
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Word Family of 维
Compounds1
潍wéia river in Shandong province
Words containing this character19
维wéito preserve維
维护wéihùto defend維護
维持wéichíto keep維持
思维sīwéithinking思維
维修wéixiūmaintenance (of equipment)維修
纤维xiānwéifiber纖維
维生素wéishēngsùvitamin維生素
拉斯维加斯lāsīwéijiāsīLas Vegas, Nevada拉斯維加斯
维多利亚wéiduōlìyàVictoria (name)維多利亞
维也纳wéiyěnàVienna, capital of Austria維也納
戴维斯dàiwéisīDavis or Davies (name)戴維斯
三维sānwéi3D三維
恭维gōngwéito praise恭維
维系wéixìto maintain維繫
维他命wéitāmìngvitamin (loanword)維他命
塞尔维亚sài’ěrwéiyàSerbia塞爾維亞
苏维埃sūwéi’āiSoviet (council)蘇維埃
玻利维亚bōlìwéiyàBolivia玻利維亞
维纳斯wéinàsīVenus (mythology, Roman goddess of love)維納斯
Exercise 1 of 4
Characters with 维
What does 潍 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 维
维 (wéi) generally refers to the act of holding together or can act as an abbreviation, while 维度 (wéi dù) specifically means 'dimension'. The latter term is used in mathematical or spatial contexts to describe measurements in different dimensions.
Yes, 维 (wéi) can also be a surname in China, although it is not as common as other surnames. It is important to note the context in which it is used to distinguish between the character as a name and its other meanings.
维 (wéi) can mean several things in Chinese, including 'to hold together' and 'dimension'. It is also used as an abbreviation for '维吾尔' (Uighur) and can refer to '维生素' (vitamin). Understanding the context is important for its correct usage.
You can use 维 (wéi) in a sentence to refer to dimensions or to describe something being held together. For example, '这个结构的维度很重要' (The dimensions of this structure are very important) or '我们需要维持这个关系' (We need to maintain this relationship).
In Chinese, 维 is an abbreviation for 维生素 (wéi shēng sù), which means vitamin.
维 is pronounced as 'wéi' with a rising tone, similar to the English word 'way'.
Yes, 维 can be used in everyday conversation, especially when discussing topics related to maintenance or preservation.
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