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March 24, 2026
畏wèi(wei4)
The character '畏' (wèi) means to fear or to have a sense of dread. It conveys a feeling of awe or reverence, often in contexts where someone respects a force or power, such as nature or authority. Common usage includes expressions of fear regarding significant life events or deep respect for someone or something powerful.
Strokes9Radical田Frequency#14924DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
'畏' is often used in Chinese literature and philosophy to express respect for nature and authority. This reflects a cultural value of harmony with powerful forces, which is deeply rooted in Confucian and Taoist thought.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person standing in front of a gigantic mountain, feeling small and filled with '畏' (wèi) - fear and awe. The character contains the radical for 'field' (田), suggesting the vastness of nature that can inspire both fear and respect.
Meanings of 畏
wèi(wei4)
1to fear
2fear, dread, awe, reverence
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 畏
畏Simplified
9Strokes
田Radical
动语素dòngcíverb root (v.root)Part of Speech
#14924Frequency Rank
Podcast: 畏
Podcast: 畏
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AI Study Notes for 畏
Quick Contrast
惧 (jù) - use '畏' when the fear is coupled with respect or reverence, while '惧' emphasizes a more straightforward fear without that nuance.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person standing in front of a gigantic mountain, feeling small and filled with '畏' (wèi) - fear and awe. The character contains the radical for 'field' (田), suggesting the vastness of nature that can inspire both fear and respect.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse '畏' with '惧' (jù), which also means fear but with a different nuance related to anxiety or fright. '畏' is generally used in more formal or literary contexts. Common collocations include '畏惧' (wèijù) and '畏惧心' (wèijù xīn), which refer to fear or apprehension.
HSK Study Tips
While '畏' is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it's beneficial for learners to connect it with other fear-related words like '害怕' (hàipà) and '惧' (jù). Students should focus on understanding the different contexts in which '畏' is used versus these other terms.
Cultural Note
'畏' is often used in Chinese literature and philosophy to express respect for nature and authority. This reflects a cultural value of harmony with powerful forces, which is deeply rooted in Confucian and Taoist thought.
Common Mistakes
Learners often misinterpret '畏' as simply meaning 'fear' without recognizing its nuance of respect or awe. For example, saying '我畏这部电影' (Wǒ wèi zhè bù diànyǐng) may imply a reaction to fear rather than a respectful acknowledgment of its impact.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 畏
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Grammar Patterns of 畏
畏 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 2 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.
" You better be fearless and confident yourself, old man, " he said.
8
拍卖行里乱哄哄谈生意的商人们令她望而生畏。
pāi mài háng lǐ luàn hōng hōng tán shēng yì de shāng rén mén líng tā wàng ér shēng wèi。
She was intimidated by the number of businessmen buzzing around the saleroom.
9
她抓起一把刀,毫不畏惧地对着这个男子.
tā zhuā qǐ yī bǎ dāo, , háo bù wèi jù dì duì zháo zhè gè nán.
She whipped up a knife and faced the man bravely.
10
他的举止相当乖戾阴郁，令人望而生畏。
tā de jǔ zhǐ xiāng dāng guāi lì yīn yù， ， líng rén wàng ér shēng。
He had a rather forbidding, saturnine manner.
Cultural Notes for 畏
🏮Cultural insight
'畏' is often used in Chinese literature and philosophy to express respect for nature and authority. This reflects a cultural value of harmony with powerful forces, which is deeply rooted in Confucian and Taoist thought.
Word Family of 畏
Compounds17
喂wei2hello (when answering the phone)
猥wei3vulgar, low; wanton, obscene
偎wei1to cling to, to cuddle, to embrace, to fondle
煨wei1to simmer, to stew
椳
渨
隈wei1bay, cove, inlet
嵔
愄
揋
碨
腲
葨
鍡
餵wei4to feed, to raise
鰃
鳂
Words Containing This Character20
畏惧wèijùto fear畏懼
敬畏to revere
畏wèito fear
不畏unafraid
大无畏utterly fearless大無畏
畏缩wèisuōto cower畏縮
畏罪to dread punishment
敌敌畏also called dimethyl dichloro-vinyl phosphate DDVP敵敵畏
望而生畏terrifying
畏首畏尾afraid of the slightest thing
生畏to feel intimidated
畏缩不前to shrink back in fear (idiom); too cowardly to advance畏縮不前
后生可畏the younger generations will surpass us in time後生可畏
畏畏缩缩cowering畏畏縮縮
人言可畏gossip is a fearful thing (idiom)
畏途dangerous road
视为畏途to view as dangerous (idiom); afraid to do sth視為畏途
畏忌restraint
初生之犊不畏虎fig. the fearlessness of youth初生之犢不畏虎
无所畏忌without any fear of consequences無所畏忌
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 喂 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 畏
Common phrases include '畏惧' (wèijù) and '畏惧心' (wèijù xīn), which emphasize a sense of fear or apprehension.
'畏' is more common in formal contexts or literature, while '害怕' (hàipà) is used in everyday speech for fear.
You might say '我对失败感到畏惧' (Wǒ duì shībài gǎndào wèijù), meaning 'I feel fear towards failure'.
