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猥 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
猥wěivulgar, low; wanton, obscenezg, 12 strokes, radical 犭
猥wěihumbleunknown, 12 strokes, radical 犭
猥wěirusticunknown, 12 strokes, radical 犭
猥wěiplentifulunknown, 12 strokes, radical 犭
wěi(wei3)wei T3
  1. 1vulgar, low; wanton, obscene
  2. 2humble
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March 24, 2026

猥wěi(wei3)

The character 猥 (wěi) primarily conveys meanings related to vulgarity and obscenity. It is commonly used in contexts discussing behavior or language that is considered crude or lowly. Additionally, it can imply a sense of humility or rusticity in certain contexts, though its negative connotations are more prevalent.

Strokes12Radical犭
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, discussions of vulgarity and public behavior are often stringent, reflecting societal values around decorum. The character 猥 may appear in literature or social commentary that critiques low or obscene conduct.

Memory tip

Imagine a 'weird' (sounds like 'wěi') person at a party acting in a vulgar manner, making everyone uncomfortable. The character 猥 has the radical for 'dog' (犭), suggesting a base or lowly nature, which can help you visualize its connection to something vulgar or obscene.

Meanings of 猥

wěi(wei3)
1vulgar, low; wanton, obscene
2humble
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 猥 means.

About 猥

猥Simplified
12Strokes
犭Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 猥

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Podcast: 猥

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AI study notes for 猥

Quick Contrast

猥 (wěi) vs 俗 (sú): Use 猥 for vulgarity and obscenity, while 俗 refers to commonness or being mundane.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 猥 with similar-sounding characters, which can lead to mistakes in context. This character is generally used in negative contexts, so be mindful of its connotation. Common collocations include 猥亵 (wěixiè, obscene) and 猥琐 (wěisuǒ, vulgar).

HSK Study Tips

While 猥 is not a part of HSK vocabulary, it can be useful when discussing topics related to morality, behavior, or societal norms. Connecting it to other characters like 低 (dī, low) or 粗 (cū, coarse) can help reinforce its meanings.

Common Mistakes

Learners often misuse 猥 by applying it to neutral contexts, thinking it simply means humble or rustic. For example, saying '他是个猥人' (tā shì gè wěi rén) incorrectly implies a neutral statement about someone's character, while it should convey something negative. Correct usage would focus on its derogatory meaning.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 猥

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Etymology of 猥

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

Phonosemantic compound. 犭 represents the meaning and 畏 represents the sound.

Memory hint

dog

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

Origin

猥 = 犭 + 畏. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 猥

IDS Structure⿰犭畏
猥Full character
=
犭quan3
left
畏wei4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 猥?

How to say vulgar, low; wanton, obscene in Chinese

“vulgar, low; wanton, obscene” in Chinese is猥wěi

The character 猥 (wěi) primarily conveys meanings related to vulgarity and obscenity. It is commonly used in contexts discussing behavior or language that is considered crude or lowly. Additionally, it can imply a sense of humility or rusticity in certain contexts, though its negative connotations are more prevalent.

When to use 猥

Learners often confuse 猥 with similar-sounding characters, which can lead to mistakes in context. This character is generally used in negative contexts, so be mindful of its connotation. Common collocations include 猥亵 (wěixiè, obscene) and 猥琐 (wěisuǒ, vulgar).

猥 or something close to it

猥 (wěi) vs 俗 (sú): Use 猥 for vulgarity and obscenity, while 俗 refers to commonness or being mundane.

What learners get wrong

Learners often misuse 猥 by applying it to neutral contexts, thinking it simply means humble or rustic. For example, saying '他是个猥人' (tā shì gè wěi rén) incorrectly implies a neutral statement about someone's character, while it should convey something negative. Correct usage would focus on its derogatory meaning.

Write 猥

猥

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

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Grammar patterns of 猥

猥 carries 4 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 2

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

他们因存在严重____亵行为而被判有罪。

They were found guilty of acts of gross indecency.

Example sentences for 猥 (2)

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1
他们因存在严重猥亵行为而被判有罪。

tāmen yīn cúnzài yánzhòng wěi xiè xíngwéi ér bèi pàn yǒu zuì。

They were found guilty of acts of gross indecency.
2
男人们吊儿郎当地站着,大口大口地喝着啤酒,偶尔还对着路过的女性猥亵地笑。

nánrén men diào ér láng dāngdì zhàn zhe, dà kǒu dà kǒu dì hē zhe píjiǔ, ǒu’ěr hái duì zhe lùguò de nǚxìng wěi xiè dì xiào。

Men were standing around, swilling beer and occasionally leering at passing females.

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Word Family of 猥

Words containing this character4
猥琐vulgar猥瑣
猥亵obscene猥褻
猥wěihumble
淫猥obscene
Exercise 1 of 3

Words with 猥

What does 猥琐 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 猥

It can describe someone's actions or language as being vulgar or obscene, such as in the phrase 猥亵的言语 (wěixiè de yányǔ), meaning obscene language.

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