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薇 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
薇wēia kind of fern; Osmunda regalisg, 16 strokes, radical 艹, rank #8101, Hard
薇wēiOsmunda regalis, a species of fernunknown, 16 strokes, radical 艹, rank #8101, Hard
薇wēiTaiwan pr. [wei2]unknown, 16 strokes, radical 艹, rank #8101, Hard
wēi(wei1) T1
  1. 1a kind of fern; Osmunda regalis
  2. 2Osmunda regalis, a species of fern
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March 24, 2026
薇wēi(wei1)

The character 薇 (wēi) refers to a type of fern, specifically the Osmunda regalis, which is known for its delicate fronds. It is commonly found in wetland areas and is significant in traditional Chinese medicine and gardening. In everyday usage, it can symbolize beauty and grace due to the fern's appearance.

Strokes16Radical艹Frequency#8101DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, ferns like the Osmunda regalis are often associated with purity and tranquility, making them a popular choice in gardens and for medicinal uses.

Memory Tip

Imagine a graceful fern swaying in the wind, its shape resembling the character 薇. The left radical (艹) represents vegetation, while the right side reminds us of 'wei' which sounds like 'way'—the way a fern flourishes in nature.

Meanings of 薇

wēi(wei1)
1a kind of fern; Osmunda regalis
2Osmunda regalis, a species of fern
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 薇

薇Simplified
16Strokes
艹Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 薇

JasonAmy

Podcast: 薇

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AI Study Notes for 薇

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a graceful fern swaying in the wind, its shape resembling the character 薇. The left radical (艹) represents vegetation, while the right side reminds us of 'wei' which sounds like 'way'—the way a fern flourishes in nature.

Usage Notes

This character is primarily used in botanical contexts and may not be familiar to everyday speakers. Be careful with the pronunciation; 'wēi' is the correct tone, while mispronouncing it as 'wèi' can change its meaning. It often appears in compound words related to plants.

HSK Study Tips

Although 薇 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it can enhance your understanding of botanical terms in Chinese. Familiarizing yourself with plant-related characters at this level will help you connect with nature-related discussions.

Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, ferns like the Osmunda regalis are often associated with purity and tranquility, making them a popular choice in gardens and for medicinal uses.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 薇 with similar-sounding words, such as 威 (wēi), which means 'power' or 'authority.' It's important to practice the correct pronunciation and context to avoid misunderstandings.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 薇

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Etymology of 薇

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

Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 微 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

plant

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

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 薇?

Decomposition of 薇

IDS Structure⿱艹微
薇Full Character
=
艹cao3
top
微Wei1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 薇?

Write 薇

薇

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

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Grammar Patterns of 薇

薇 carries 3 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 4

Complete the Sentence

我破产了，莉____，而且我欠了几百万美元的债。

I'm broke, Livy, and I owe a couple of million dollars.

Example Sentences for 薇 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
我破产了，莉薇，而且我欠了几百万美元的债。

wǒ pò chǎn le， ， lì， wēi ， ér qiě wǒ qiàn le jī bǎi wàn měi yuán。

I'm broke, Livy, and I owe a couple of million dollars.
2
他压抑住想要抓住艾薇摇晃她的冲动。

tā yā yì zhù xiǎng yào zhuā zhù ài wēi yáo huǎng tā de chōng dòng。

He stifled his temptation to take hold of Ivy and shake her.
3
“很高兴见到你，佐薇，”说完我便溜走了。

“ “ hěn gāo xīng jiàn dào， nǐ ，，” zuǒ wēi ，” shuō wán wǒ biàn。

"Nice meeting you, Zoe," I said and slid off.
4
佐薇爬下岩石去够他，被划得满身是伤。

zuǒ wēi pá xià yán shí qù gòu tā， ， bèi huá dé mǎn shēn shì。

Zoe was badly cut as she scrambled down rocks to reach him.
5
莉薇津津有味地大口吃着点心。

lì wēi jīn jīn yǒu wèi dì dà kǒu chī zháo diǎn xīn。

Livy ate the pasties greedily and with huge enjoyment.
6
“莉薇，这里需要你。”——“可我能做些什么呢？”

“ “ lì， wēi ， zhè lǐ xū。”——“ yào nǐ 。”——“ kě wǒ néng zuò xiē？”

"You're needed here, Livy" — "But what can I do?"
7
莉薇的俄语很有起色，她学得非常快。

lì wēi de é yǔ hěn yǒu qǐ sè， ， tā xué dé fēi cháng。

Livy's getting on very well in Russian. She learns very quickly.
8
薇拉把他的衬衫熨平了。

wēi lā bǎ tā de chèn shān yùn píng le。

Vera pressed his shirt.
9
金银花和野蔷薇把道旁的树也薰香了.

jīn yín huā hé yě qiáng wēi bǎ dào páng de shù yě xūn xiāng le.

The pale woodbines and the dog - roses were scenting the hedgerows.
10
郝薇香小姐依旧不动声色地望着我.

hǎo wēi xiāng xiǎo jiě yī jiù bù dòng shēng sè dì wàng zháo wǒ.

Miss Havisham continued to look steadily at me.

Cultural Notes for 薇

🏮Cultural insight

In traditional Chinese culture, ferns like the Osmunda regalis are often associated with purity and tranquility, making them a popular choice in gardens and for medicinal uses.

Word Family of 薇

Words Containing This Character4
薇wēiTaiwan pr. [wéi]
赵薇Zhao Wei or Vicky Zhao (1976-), Chinese film star趙薇
蔷薇Japanese rose (Rosa multiflora)薔薇
紫薇crape myrtle
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 薇 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 薇

It means 'a type of fern,' specifically the Osmunda regalis.