vassal state during the Zhou Dynasty (1066-221 BC), located in present day Henan and Hebei Provinces
HSK 5, n, 3 strokes, radical 乛, rank #5299, Hard
卫
wèi
to guard
HSK 5, n, 3 strokes, radical 乛, rank #5299, Hard
卫
wèi
to protect
HSK 5, n, 3 strokes, radical 乛, rank #5299, Hard
卫
wèi
to defend
HSK 5, n, 3 strokes, radical 乛, rank #5299, Hard
卫
wèi
abbr. for 衛生
HSK 5, n, 3 strokes, radical 乛, rank #5299, Hard
卫
wèi
>卫生, hygiene
HSK 5, n, 3 strokes, radical 乛, rank #5299, Hard
卫
wèi
health
HSK 5, n, 3 strokes, radical 乛, rank #5299, Hard
卫
wèi
abbr. for 衛生間
HSK 5, n, 3 strokes, radical 乛, rank #5299, Hard
卫
wèi
>卫生间, toilet
HSK 5, n, 3 strokes, radical 乛, rank #5299, Hard
卫
wèi
abbr. for 衛生|卫生, hygiene
HSK 5, unknown, 3 strokes, radical 乛, rank #5299, Hard
卫
wèi
abbr. for 衛生間|卫生间, toilet
HSK 5, unknown, 3 strokes, radical 乛, rank #5299, Hard
wèi(Wei4) T4
1vassal state during the Zhou Dynasty (1066-221 BC), located in present day Henan and Hebei Provinces
2to guard
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
卫(衛)wèi(Wei4)
The character 卫 (wèi) primarily means 'to guard' or 'to protect.' It is often used in contexts related to health and hygiene, as it serves as an abbreviation for terms like 衛生 (wèishēng), meaning hygiene or health. Additionally, it refers to a historical vassal state during the Zhou Dynasty, connecting the character to both modern and historical significance.
Strokes3Radical乛Frequency#5299DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
The character 卫 is important in Chinese culture as it relates to health and hygiene, which are highly valued in traditional Chinese medicine and daily practices. The concept of cleanliness is deeply rooted in Chinese history and remains significant in contemporary society.
Memory Tip
Imagine a warrior (the character 卫) standing guard over a healthy garden, symbolizing protection and cleanliness. The left side can be seen as a shield, while the right side represents the harmonious balance of health (the radical for 'guard' + an element that suggests life). This imagery connects the sound 'wèi' with the act of protecting something valuable.
Meanings of 卫
wèi(Wei4)
1vassal state during the Zhou Dynasty (1066-221 BC), located in present day Henan and Hebei Provinces
2to guard
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 卫
卫Simplified
衛Traditional
3Strokes
乛Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#5299Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5
Podcast: 卫
Podcast: 卫
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 卫
Quick Contrast
卫 (wèi) vs 保 (bǎo) — use 卫 when emphasizing guarding or protecting, especially in health contexts, while 保 focuses more on safeguarding or ensuring safety.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a warrior (the character 卫) standing guard over a healthy garden, symbolizing protection and cleanliness. The left side can be seen as a shield, while the right side represents the harmonious balance of health (the radical for 'guard' + an element that suggests life). This imagery connects the sound 'wèi' with the act of protecting something valuable.
Usage Notes
When using 卫, be mindful of its context; it can refer to both a protective action and a state of health. Common mistakes include confusing it with similar-sounding characters that have different meanings. In formal writing, prefer using its full forms like 衛生 rather than the abbreviation.
HSK Study Tips
While 卫 is not included in HSK levels, it connects to HSK vocabulary related to health and safety. Students should focus on understanding its various meanings and how it interacts with other words in health-related contexts, such as 衛生 and 衛生間.
Cultural Note
The character 卫 is important in Chinese culture as it relates to health and hygiene, which are highly valued in traditional Chinese medicine and daily practices. The concept of cleanliness is deeply rooted in Chinese history and remains significant in contemporary society.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 卫 with similar characters like 为 (wèi), which means 'to do' or 'to act.' For example, saying '我卫他' (I guard him) instead of the correct '我保护他' (I protect him) shows confusion in meaning.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 卫
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 卫 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 卫 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 卫
卫 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 12 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.
The bathroom is furnished with 2 toilets, 2 showers, and 2 sinks.
Cultural Notes for 卫
💡Did you know?
The character 卫 not only represents the concept of hygiene but also has historical significance as a vassal state during the Zhou Dynasty. This shows how language can reflect both practical and historical contexts.
🏮Cultural insight
The character 卫 is important in Chinese culture as it relates to health and hygiene, which are highly valued in traditional Chinese medicine and daily practices. The concept of cleanliness is deeply rooted in Chinese history and remains significant in contemporary society.
Word Family of 卫
Words Containing This Character20
卫生wèishēnghealth衛生
卫星wèixīngmoon衛星
大卫David (name)大衛
卫wèito guard衛
保卫bǎowèito defend保衛
警卫to stand guard over警衛
后卫rear guard後衛
守卫to guard守衛
卫生间wèishēngjiānbathroom衛生間
卫生部Ministry of Health衛生部
自卫zìwèiself-defense自衛
防卫fángwèito defend防衛
捍卫hànwèito defend捍衛
护卫to guard護衛
前卫vanguard前衛
卫冕to defend the crown (in sports championship)衛冕
卫生局health office衛生局
门卫sentry門衛
环卫public cleanliness環衛
卫视wèishìsatellite TV (abbr. for 衛星電視|卫星电视[wèixīngdiànshì])衛視
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 卫生 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 卫
卫 (wèi) often refers to defense or hygiene, while 健康 (jiànkāng) specifically means health. In contexts discussing health standards or cleanliness, 卫 is more appropriate, whereas 健康 emphasizes overall well-being.
During the Zhou Dynasty, 卫 was a vassal state known for its importance in the political landscape of ancient China. It contributed to the feudal system and played a role in the regional power dynamics of the time. Understanding its history helps learners appreciate the cultural and historical context of the language.
卫 (wèi) has several meanings in Chinese. It can refer to the surname Wei, a vassal state during the Zhou Dynasty, or the concept of defense. Additionally, it is an abbreviation for 衛生 (wèishēng), meaning hygiene or health, and 衛生間 (wèishēngjiān), which means toilet.
卫 (wèi) can be used in various contexts. For example, you can say '他在卫国' (tā zài wèi guó), which means 'He is defending the country.' It can also be used in health-related phrases like '保持卫生' (bǎochí wèishēng), meaning 'maintain hygiene.'
Common phrases include 卫生 (wèishēng) for hygiene and 衛生間 (wèishēngjiān) for toilet.
Yes, it is often used in terms related to public health and hygiene, especially in health education.
The correct pronunciation is 'wèi,' with a falling tone.
