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韋 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
韋wéitanned leather; surnamex, 9 strokes, radical 韋
wéi(wei2) T2
  1. 1tanned leather; surname
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

韋wéi(wei2)

韦 (wéi) primarily refers to tanned leather, which is a material often used in making clothing, accessories, and various goods. It can also serve as a surname in Chinese culture, highlighting its significance beyond just a material object.

Strokes9Radical韋
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, leather has historical significance, especially in traditional crafts and clothing. The surname 韦 is associated with notable historical figures, adding depth to its understanding.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'weigh' scale where leather is being 'weighed' down by heavy weight. The character 韋 looks like a person holding a piece of leather, signifying its role in fashion and utility, and has a similar sound to 'weigh', connecting to its meaning.

Meanings of 韋

wéi(wei2)
1tanned leather; surname
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 韋

韋Simplified
9Strokes
韋Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 韋

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Podcast: 韋

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AI Study Notes for 韋

Usage Notes

While 韋 is not commonly used in everyday conversation, it may appear in discussions about materials or when addressing specific surnames. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding characters, ensuring correct tone and pronunciation.

HSK Study Tips

Although 韋 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it can be connected to words about materials (e.g., 皮, pī for skin or leather). Students should focus on recognizing its structure and identifying it in texts that discuss historical or cultural contexts.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 韋 with 韦 (wéi), which is a variant of the same character. It's important to remember that despite the slight difference in appearance, they convey the same meaning and pronunciation.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 韋

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Etymology of 韋

Explanation

Simplified form of 韋. Pictograph of two feet walking around city walls. The character is based on the original meaning "to surround", which is unrelated to the modern meaning.

Learn more about character formation (六书)

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 韋

Simplified form of 韋. Pictograph of two feet walking around city walls. The character is based on the original meaning "to surround", which is unrelated to the modern meaning.

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

Want the full history of 韋? 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 韋?

Decomposition of 韋

IDS Structure⿻？口
韋Full Character
=
口kou3
outer
Exercise 1 of 1

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 韋?

How to say tanned leather; surname in Chinese

“tanned leather; surname” in Chinese is韋wéi

韦 (wéi) primarily refers to tanned leather, which is a material often used in making clothing, accessories, and various goods. It can also serve as a surname in Chinese culture, highlighting its significance beyond just a material object.

When to use 韋

While 韋 is not commonly used in everyday conversation, it may appear in discussions about materials or when addressing specific surnames. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding characters, ensuring correct tone and pronunciation.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 韋 with 韦 (wéi), which is a variant of the same character. It's important to remember that despite the slight difference in appearance, they convey the same meaning and pronunciation.

Write 韋

韋

Practice writing 韋 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 韋

Words Containing This Character9
韦wéisurname Wei韋
韦德Wade (name)韋德
韦伯Webb, Webber or Weber (name)韋伯
查韦斯Chavez, Spanish name查韋斯
津巴布韦Zimbabwe津巴布韋
吕不韦Lü Buwei (?291-235 BC), merchant and politician of the State of Qin 秦國|秦国[Qín​guó], subsequent Qin Dynasty 秦代[Qín​dài] Chancellor, allegedly the father of Ying Zheng 嬴政[Yíng​Zhèng], who subsequently became the first emperor Qin Shihuang 秦始皇[Qín​Shǐ​huáng]呂不韋
梅德韦杰夫Medvedyev (name)梅德韋傑夫
韦利Waley or Whaley (name)韋利
麦克斯韦Maxwell (name)麥克斯韋
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 韦 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 韋

韦 means tanned leather and can also be a Chinese surname.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 韋?

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.