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隗 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
隗kuísurname Kuiunknown, 11 strokes, radical 阝
隗kuísurname Weiunknown, 11 strokes, radical 阝
隗kuíhigh, lofty; surnamenr, 11 strokes, radical 阝
隗kuíZhou Dynasty vassal stateunknown, 11 strokes, radical 阝
隗wěisurname Kuiunknown, 11 strokes, radical 阝
隗wěisurname Weiunknown, 11 strokes, radical 阝
隗wěihigh, lofty; surnamenr, 11 strokes, radical 阝
隗wěiZhou Dynasty vassal stateunknown, 11 strokes, radical 阝
kuí(Kui2)
primary
T2
  1. 1surname Kui
  2. 2high, lofty; surname
Also a Chinese surname, Kui — see the Surname Dictionary
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

隗kuí(Kui2)

The character 隗 (kuí) primarily refers to something high or lofty. It is also a surname and can denote specific historical references, such as the vassal state during the Zhou Dynasty. The term conveys a sense of elevation or prominence, both literally and figuratively.

Strokes11Radical阝
Cultural Note

The character 隗 is often associated with the ancient Zhou Dynasty, which is significant in Chinese history for its feudal system. Understanding this character can provide insights into the social structure and hierarchy of that era.

Memory Tip

Imagine a tall mountain (the meaning of 'high') with a flag waving at the top, symbolizing 'lofty' ideals. The character 隗 has the radical for 'gate' (阝) suggesting something grand beyond a threshold, while the phonetic part can remind you of 'ku' in 'queue', waiting in line to reach the top of the mountain.

Meanings of 隗

kuí(Kui2)
primary
1high, lofty; surname
2Zhou Dynasty vassal state
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 隗

隗Simplified
11Strokes
阝Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 隗

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Podcast: 隗

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AI Study Notes for 隗

Usage Notes

Although 隗 is not commonly used in everyday conversation, it is important in historical contexts. Learners should be careful with its pronunciation to avoid confusion with similar-sounding characters. In formal writing, it may appear in discussions of history or surnames.

HSK Study Tips

Since 隗 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, learners should focus on recognizing it in historical texts or literature. Connecting it with other characters that denote height or status could enhance retention, especially those at HSK levels 4 and above.

Common Mistakes

Learners may confuse 隗 with similar-sounding characters, leading to mispronunciation. For example, saying 'wei' instead of 'kuí' would be incorrect. Additionally, using it in casual conversation can be misleading, as it is primarily historical.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 隗

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Etymology of 隗

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

hill

Semantic (meaning)阝
+
Phonetic (sound)鬼
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 隗

  1. 1The meaning half阝 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half鬼 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayhill
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 隗? 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 隗?

Decomposition of 隗

IDS Structure⿰阝鬼
隗Full Character
=
阝yi4
left
鬼gui3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 隗?

How to say surname Kui in Chinese

“surname Kui” in Chinese is隗kuí

The character 隗 (kuí) primarily refers to something high or lofty. It is also a surname and can denote specific historical references, such as the vassal state during the Zhou Dynasty. The term conveys a sense of elevation or prominence, both literally and figuratively.

When to use 隗

Although 隗 is not commonly used in everyday conversation, it is important in historical contexts. Learners should be careful with its pronunciation to avoid confusion with similar-sounding characters. In formal writing, it may appear in discussions of history or surnames.

What learners get wrong

Learners may confuse 隗 with similar-sounding characters, leading to mispronunciation. For example, saying 'wei' instead of 'kuí' would be incorrect. Additionally, using it in casual conversation can be misleading, as it is primarily historical.

Write 隗

隗

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 隗

Words Containing This Character1
隗kuísurname Kui
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 隗 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 隗

Yes, 隗 is a recognized surname in China, though it is not as common as many others.

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