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猬 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
猬wèiporcupine, hedgehog; many, varied; vulgar, lowg, 12 strokes, radical 犭
猬wèihedgehog (family Erinaceidae)unknown, 12 strokes, radical 犭
wèi(wei4)wei T4
  1. 1porcupine, hedgehog; many, varied; vulgar, low
  2. 2hedgehog (family Erinaceidae)
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March 24, 2026

猬(蝟)wèi(wei4)

The character 猬 (wèi) primarily refers to a porcupine or hedgehog, animals known for their spiny quills. It can also denote a sense of variety or multitude when used in certain contexts. In specific usages, it can have a vulgar connotation, implying something low or of lesser quality.

Strokes12Radical犭
Cultural note

In traditional Chinese medicine, some believe that parts of the hedgehog can have medicinal properties, making the concept of the hedgehog culturally significant in health discussions.

Memory tip

Imagine a hedgehog (the animal represented by 猬) curling itself into a ball, its spines resembling the sharp lines of the character. The 'w' sound in 'wèi' can remind you of 'weird' which connects to the quirky appearance of these spiny creatures.

Meanings of 猬

wèi(wei4)
1porcupine, hedgehog; many, varied; vulgar, low
2hedgehog (family Erinaceidae)
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 猬

猬Simplified
蝟Traditional
12Strokes
犭Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 猬

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Podcast: 猬

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AI study notes for 猬

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include confusing 猬 with similar-sounding characters that do not refer to animals. Register is generally neutral, but be cautious of using it in formal writing where its vulgar connotation could be inappropriate. It is often used in phrases that describe variety.

HSK Study Tips

While 猬 is not part of the standard HSK vocabulary, understanding it can enrich your vocabulary related to animals. Focus on pronunciation, as the correct tones will help distinguish it from other characters with similar sounds.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 猬 with other animal characters like 熊 (xióng, bear) due to similar contexts. Remember, 猬 specifically refers to hedgehogs or porcupines, not bears.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 猬

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Etymology of 猬

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

animal

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

Origin

猬 = 犭 + 胃. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 猬

IDS Structure⿰犭胃
猬Full character
=
犭quan3
left
胃wei4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 猬?

How to say porcupine, hedgehog; many, varied; vulgar, low in Chinese

“porcupine, hedgehog; many, varied; vulgar, low” in Chinese is猬wèi

The character 猬 (wèi) primarily refers to a porcupine or hedgehog, animals known for their spiny quills. It can also denote a sense of variety or multitude when used in certain contexts. In specific usages, it can have a vulgar connotation, implying something low or of lesser quality.

When to use 猬

Common mistakes include confusing 猬 with similar-sounding characters that do not refer to animals. Register is generally neutral, but be cautious of using it in formal writing where its vulgar connotation could be inappropriate. It is often used in phrases that describe variety.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 猬 with other animal characters like 熊 (xióng, bear) due to similar contexts. Remember, 猬 specifically refers to hedgehogs or porcupines, not bears.

Write 猬

猬

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

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Grammar patterns of 猬

猬 carries 2 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.

杀人莫敢前,须如____毛磔.

Would slay whoever dared confront Those moustaches that Bristled like porcupinequills.

Example sentences for 猬 (1)

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1
杀人莫敢前,须如猬毛磔.

shā rén mò gǎn qián, xū rú wèi máo zhé.

Would slay whoever dared confront Those moustaches that Bristled like porcupinequills.

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Word Family of 猬

Words containing this character2
刺猬hedgehog刺蝟
猬wèihedgehog (family Erinaceidae)蝟
Exercise 1 of 1

Words with 猬

What does 刺猬 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 猬

猬 specifically refers to hedgehogs and porcupines, while other characters, like 狗 (gǒu) for dog, refer to entirely different animals.

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