Meanings of 崴
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About 崴
Podcast: 崴
Podcast: 崴
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AI Study Notes for 崴
扭 (niǔ, to twist) vs 崴 (wǎi, to sprain) — use 崴 when specifically referring to a sprain, especially of the ankle, while 扭 can refer to twisting any body part.
Be careful with pronunciation, as the third tone can be easily mispronounced, leading to confusion with similar-sounding words. This character is more commonly used in informal contexts, particularly in discussions about sports or physical activities. A common collocation is '崴脚' (wǎi jiǎo), meaning 'to sprain an ankle.'
Although 崴 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary list, it connects to HSK Level 3 characters regarding body parts and actions. Focus on the context in which it is used, especially in conversations involving sports or injuries, to enhance understanding.
Learners often confuse 崴 (wǎi) with similar-sounding words like 外 (wài, meaning 'outside'). Remember that 崴 specifically relates to spraining an ankle, while 外 is about location.
Pronunciation of 崴
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Etymology of 崴
Phonosemantic compound. 山 represents the meaning and 威 represents the sound.
mountain
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 崴
Phonosemantic compound. 山 represents the meaning and 威 represents the sound.
- 1The meaning half山 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half威 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawaymountain
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 崴? 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
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Decomposition of 崴
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How to say high, lofty, precipitous; to sprain in Chinese
“high, lofty, precipitous; to sprain” in Chinese is崴
The character 崴 (wǎi) primarily means 'to sprain,' particularly in the context of injuring an ankle. It can also describe something that is high or precipitous. Commonly used in phrases related to injuries, it conveys a sense of suddenness or elevation, often referring to physical movement or terrain.
When to use 崴
Be careful with pronunciation, as the third tone can be easily mispronounced, leading to confusion with similar-sounding words. This character is more commonly used in informal contexts, particularly in discussions about sports or physical activities. A common collocation is '崴脚' (wǎi jiǎo), meaning 'to sprain an ankle.'
崴 or something close to it
扭 (niǔ, to twist) vs 崴 (wǎi, to sprain) — use 崴 when specifically referring to a sprain, especially of the ankle, while 扭 can refer to twisting any body part.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 崴 (wǎi) with similar-sounding words like 外 (wài, meaning 'outside'). Remember that 崴 specifically relates to spraining an ankle, while 外 is about location.
Write 崴
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Practice writing 崴 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 崴
Compound Meaning
What does 崴 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 崴
Make sure to use the third tone, starting mid and dropping low before rising slightly.
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