Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
渭 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
wèia river in Shanxi provincens, 12 strokes, radical 氵, Very Hard
wèithe Wei River in Shaanxi through the Guanzhong 關中|关中 plainunknown, 12 strokes, radical 氵, Very Hard
wèi(Wei4) T4
  1. 1a river in Shanxi province
  2. 2the Wei River in Shaanxi through the Guanzhong 關中|关中 plain
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
wèi(Wei4)

The character 渭 (wèi) refers specifically to a river located in the Shanxi province of China, known as the Wei River. This river is significant for its historical and geographical importance in the Guanzhong plain area, often associated with agricultural fertility and cultural heritage.

Strokes12RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

The Wei River has deep cultural significance in Chinese history, often mentioned in classical poetry and literature as a symbol of nature and beauty. It has been a source of inspiration for various traditional Chinese artworks and writings.

Memory Tip

Imagine a winding river (the radical 水, meaning 'water') flowing through a valley. The character 渭 can remind you of 'way', as it symbolizes a pathway or route through the landscape. Visualize a scenic view of the Wei River with lush green banks, making it easier to remember its sound and meaning.

Meanings of 渭

wèi(Wei4)
1a river in Shanxi province
2the Wei River in Shaanxi through the Guanzhong 關中|关中 plain
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 渭

Simplified
12Strokes
Radical
地名míngcíplace name (p.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 渭

JasonAmy

Podcast:

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 渭

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a winding river (the radical 水, meaning 'water') flowing through a valley. The character 渭 can remind you of 'way', as it symbolizes a pathway or route through the landscape. Visualize a scenic view of the Wei River with lush green banks, making it easier to remember its sound and meaning.

Usage Notes

When discussing geographic locations, use 渭 in contexts related to history, culture, or geography. Avoid using it in casual conversations unrelated to these topics, as it may seem out of place. Always be sure to pronounce it with the correct fourth tone to avoid confusion with other similar-sounding words.

HSK Study Tips

Though 渭 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects to other geographic terms often studied at higher levels. Students should focus on recognizing how it fits into discussions about rivers and landscapes, expanding their vocabulary related to nature.

Cultural Note

The Wei River has deep cultural significance in Chinese history, often mentioned in classical poetry and literature as a symbol of nature and beauty. It has been a source of inspiration for various traditional Chinese artworks and writings.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 渭 with similar characters, such as 为 (wéi), which means 'to be' or 'for'. A common mistake is saying '为河' instead of '渭河' when referring to the Wei River.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 渭

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Etymology of 渭

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

Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 胃 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

water

Semantic (meaning)
+
Phonetic (sound)
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 渭?

Decomposition of 渭

IDS Structure⿰氵胃
Full Character
=
shui3
left
wei4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 渭?

Write 渭

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Cultural Notes for 渭

🏮Cultural insight

The Wei River has deep cultural significance in Chinese history, often mentioned in classical poetry and literature as a symbol of nature and beauty. It has been a source of inspiration for various traditional Chinese artworks and writings.

Word Family of 渭

Words Containing This Character15
泾渭分明to be entirely different涇渭分明
wèithe Wei River in Shaanxi through the Guanzhong 關中|关中 plain
渭河Wei River in Shaanxi through the Guanzhong 關中|关中[Guān​zhōng] plain
渭南Weinan prefecture level city in Shaanxi
渭水Wei River in Shaanxi through the Guanzhong 關中|关中 plain
渭南市Weinan prefecture level city in Shaanxi
徐渭Xu Wei, Chinese painter
渭源县Weiyuan county in Dingxi 定西[Dìng​xī], Gansu渭源縣
通渭县Tongwei county in Dingxi 定西[Dìng​xī], Gansu通渭縣
临渭区Linwei District of Weinan City 渭南市[Wèi​nán​Shì], Shaanxi臨渭區
通渭Tongwei county in Dingxi 定西[Dìng​xī], Gansu
渭源Weiyuan county in Dingxi 定西[Dìng​xī], Gansu
渭城区Weicheng District in Xianyang City 咸陽市|咸阳市[Xián​yáng​Shì], Shaanxi渭城區
渭南地区Weinan prefecture in Shaanxi渭南地區
渭滨区Weibin District of Baoji City 寶雞市|宝鸡市[Bǎo​jī​Shì], Shaanxi渭濱區
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 泾渭分明 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 渭

渭 refers to a specific river in China, particularly known as the Wei River in Shaanxi province.