unknown, 16 strokes, radical 艹, rank #8101, Very Hard
薇
wēi
Taiwan pr. [wei2]
unknown, 16 strokes, radical 艹, rank #8101, Very Hard
wēi(wei1) T1
1a kind of fern; Osmunda regalis
2Osmunda regalis, a species of fern
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March 24, 2026
薇wēi(wei1)
The character 薇 (wēi) refers to a type of fern, specifically the Osmunda regalis, which is known for its delicate fronds. It is commonly found in wetland areas and is significant in traditional Chinese medicine and gardening. In everyday usage, it can symbolize beauty and grace due to the fern's appearance.
Strokes16Radical艹Frequency#8101DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, ferns like the Osmunda regalis are often associated with purity and tranquility, making them a popular choice in gardens and for medicinal uses.
Memory Tip
Imagine a graceful fern swaying in the wind, its shape resembling the character 薇. The left radical (艹) represents vegetation, while the right side reminds us of 'wei' which sounds like 'way'—the way a fern flourishes in nature.
Meanings of 薇
wēi(wei1)
1a kind of fern; Osmunda regalis
2Osmunda regalis, a species of fern
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 薇
薇Simplified
16Strokes
艹Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 薇
Podcast: 薇
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AI Study Notes for 薇
Usage Notes
This character is primarily used in botanical contexts and may not be familiar to everyday speakers. Be careful with the pronunciation; 'wēi' is the correct tone, while mispronouncing it as 'wèi' can change its meaning. It often appears in compound words related to plants.
HSK Study Tips
Although 薇 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it can enhance your understanding of botanical terms in Chinese. Familiarizing yourself with plant-related characters at this level will help you connect with nature-related discussions.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 薇 with similar-sounding words, such as 威 (wēi), which means 'power' or 'authority.' It's important to practice the correct pronunciation and context to avoid misunderstandings.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 薇
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Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 微 represents the sound.
1The meaning half艹 carries the sense.
2The sound half微 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayplant
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 薇? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 薇?
Decomposition of 薇
IDS Structure⿱艹微
薇Full Character
=
艹cao3
top
微Wei1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 薇?
How to say a kind of fern; Osmunda regalis in Chinese
“a kind of fern; Osmunda regalis” in Chinese is薇wēi
The character 薇 (wēi) refers to a type of fern, specifically the Osmunda regalis, which is known for its delicate fronds. It is commonly found in wetland areas and is significant in traditional Chinese medicine and gardening. In everyday usage, it can symbolize beauty and grace due to the fern's appearance.
When to use 薇
This character is primarily used in botanical contexts and may not be familiar to everyday speakers. Be careful with the pronunciation; 'wēi' is the correct tone, while mispronouncing it as 'wèi' can change its meaning. It often appears in compound words related to plants.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 薇 with similar-sounding words, such as 威 (wēi), which means 'power' or 'authority.' It's important to practice the correct pronunciation and context to avoid misunderstandings.
Write 薇
薇
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Practice writing 薇 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 薇
薇 carries 3 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 4
Complete the Sentence
我破产了，莉____，而且我欠了几百万美元的债。
I'm broke, Livy, and I owe a couple of million dollars.
Example Sentences for 薇 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
我破产了，莉薇，而且我欠了几百万美元的债。
wǒ pò chǎn le， ， lì， wēi ， ér qiě wǒ qiàn le jī bǎi wàn měi yuán。
I'm broke, Livy, and I owe a couple of million dollars.
2
他压抑住想要抓住艾薇摇晃她的冲动。
tā yā yì zhù xiǎng yào zhuā zhù ài wēi yáo huǎng tā de chōng dòng。
He stifled his temptation to take hold of Ivy and shake her.
