Meanings of 衛
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 衛
Podcast: 衛
Podcast: 衛
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 衛
卫 (wèi) vs 保 (bǎo) — use 衛 (wèi) when emphasizing a protective role, often in defense contexts, while 保 (bǎo) focuses more on safeguarding or ensuring safety.
Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing 衛 (wèi), as a mispronunciation can change its meaning. It is typically used in more formal contexts, especially related to security or defense, so be cautious in casual conversations. Common collocations include 衛兵 (guard) and 衛生 (hygiene).
While 衛 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects well to related terms such as 衛生 (hygiene) and 防衛 (defense). Learners at this level should focus on recognizing characters that denote protection or defense, as they often appear in various contexts.
Learners often confuse 衛 with other similar-sounding characters. For example, they might mistakenly use 衛 (wèi) when they mean to say 维 (wéi), which means to maintain or preserve. Practice distinguishing these characters by focusing on their specific meanings and contexts.
Pronunciation of 衛
Drill the tone of 衛 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Etymology of 衛
Simplified from the cursive form of the traditional character 衛. Depicts feet (止) walking around, patrolling a street intersection (行).
step
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 衛
Simplified from the cursive form of the traditional character 衛. Depicts feet (止) walking around, patrolling a street intersection (行).
- 1The meaning half行 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half韋 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawaystep
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 衛? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 衛?
Decomposition of 衛
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 衛?
How to say to guard, to protect, to defend in Chinese
“to guard, to protect, to defend” in Chinese is衛
The character 衛 (wèi) means 'to guard' or 'to protect.' It is often used in contexts related to defense, safety, and security, such as in military terms or when discussing protective measures in daily life. Its nuanced meaning can imply both physical and metaphorical protection.
When to use 衛
Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing 衛 (wèi), as a mispronunciation can change its meaning. It is typically used in more formal contexts, especially related to security or defense, so be cautious in casual conversations. Common collocations include 衛兵 (guard) and 衛生 (hygiene).
衛 or something close to it
卫 (wèi) vs 保 (bǎo) — use 衛 (wèi) when emphasizing a protective role, often in defense contexts, while 保 (bǎo) focuses more on safeguarding or ensuring safety.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 衛 with other similar-sounding characters. For example, they might mistakenly use 衛 (wèi) when they mean to say 维 (wéi), which means to maintain or preserve. Practice distinguishing these characters by focusing on their specific meanings and contexts.
Write 衛
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 衛 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 衛
Compound Meaning
What does 卫生 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 衛
Common phrases include 衛兵 (guard) and 衛生 (hygiene), both of which emphasize the idea of protection in different contexts.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 衛?
Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.