右卫 (yòu wèi) — (historical) Right Guard (imperial guard unit) | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Right Guard — one of the imperial guard units in ancient Chinese dynasties (e.g. Tang, Ming), responsible for palace security. Pairs with 左卫 as its counterpart on the left.

noun

(historical) Right Guard (imperial guard unit)

Examples

右卫。
Táng dài de yòu wèi fù zé bǎo wèi huáng gōng de ān quán.
The Right Guard of the Tang Dynasty was responsible for protecting the imperial palace.
右卫。
Tā zài xiǎo shuō lǐ shì yòu wèi de yì míng jiàng lǐng.
In the novel, he is a general of the Right Guard.
右卫。
Míng dài yòu wèi de biān zhì yǔ táng dài yǒu suǒ bù tóng.
The organization of the Right Guard in the Ming Dynasty differed from that of the Tang.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

右 gives right, 卫 gives guard, so the right guard.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

又

又yòu右yòu

Same sound today

右 is made from 又, which supplied the sound, with 口 added as a distinguishing mark.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 衛; 卫 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

韋

韋wéi衛wèi

Same sound today

The traditional form 衛 is built from 行 as the sense part and 韋 as the sound part; the simplified 卫 is a shorthand.

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