unknown, 11 strokes, radical 艹, rank #23688, Very Hard
wěi(wei3) T3
1to wither
2to drop
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
萎wěi(wei3)
The character 萎 (wěi) primarily means 'to wither' or 'to decline,' often used in reference to plants that are wilting or losing vitality. In a broader context, it can describe a decrease in energy, spirit, or quality, making it relevant in both literal and figurative situations.
Strokes11Radical艹Frequency#23688DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the imagery of withering plants often symbolizes loss or sadness, resonating with themes in poetry and art. This character can evoke the transient nature of life, which is a common motif in traditional Chinese philosophy.
Memory Tip
Imagine a wilting flower drooping its head in sadness. The character 萎 has a radical for 'plant' (艹) on top, symbolizing vegetation, while the bottom part resembles a person (韦) who appears weak and spiritless, emphasizing the concept of decline.
Meanings of 萎
wěi(wei3)
1to wither
2to drop
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 萎
萎Simplified
11Strokes
艹Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#23688Frequency Rank
Podcast: 萎
Podcast: 萎
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 萎
Quick Contrast
衰 (shuāi) - use 萎 (wěi) when referring specifically to plants or vitality loss, while 衰 (shuāi) is broader, including general decline in health or strength.
Usage Notes
This character is more commonly used in written Chinese than in spoken language, so learners may encounter it frequently in literature or formal contexts. Be cautious of the tone; the third tone (wěi) is essential, as using the first tone (wēi) can change the meaning entirely.
HSK Study Tips
Although 萎 is not included in the official HSK vocabulary lists, it is beneficial for learners at HSK 4 and above, especially when studying literature or more complex expressions. Focus on recognizing its usage in context and its connection with similar words like 衰 (shuāi), meaning 'to decline.'
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 萎 with other similar-sounding characters, like 魏 (wèi) or 危 (wēi). For example, saying '这朵花已经魏了' is incorrect; the correct form is '这朵花已经萎了.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 萎
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 萎 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 委 represents the sound.
1The meaning half艹 carries the sense.
2The sound half委 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayplant
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 萎? 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 萎?
Decomposition of 萎
IDS Structure⿱艹委
萎Full Character
=
艹cao3
top
委wei1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 萎?
How to say to wither in Chinese
“to wither” in Chinese is萎wěi
The character 萎 (wěi) primarily means 'to wither' or 'to decline,' often used in reference to plants that are wilting or losing vitality. In a broader context, it can describe a decrease in energy, spirit, or quality, making it relevant in both literal and figurative situations.
When to use 萎
This character is more commonly used in written Chinese than in spoken language, so learners may encounter it frequently in literature or formal contexts. Be cautious of the tone; the third tone (wěi) is essential, as using the first tone (wēi) can change the meaning entirely.
萎 or something close to it
衰 (shuāi) - use 萎 (wěi) when referring specifically to plants or vitality loss, while 衰 (shuāi) is broader, including general decline in health or strength.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 萎 with other similar-sounding characters, like 魏 (wèi) or 危 (wēi). For example, saying '这朵花已经魏了' is incorrect; the correct form is '这朵花已经萎了.'
Write 萎
萎
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 萎 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 萎
萎 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 7 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
牙龈____缩可能是疾病导致的，也可能仅仅是错误的刷牙方式引起的。
Receding gums can be the result of disease or simply incorrect brushing.
Example Sentences for 萎 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
牙龈萎缩可能是疾病导致的，也可能仅仅是错误的刷牙方式引起的。
yá yín wěi suō kě néng shì jí bìng dǎo zhì de， ， yě kě néng jǐn jǐn shì cuò wù de shuā yá fāng shì yǐn qǐ。
Receding gums can be the result of disease or simply incorrect brushing.
