慰 (wèi) — (bound form) to console, to comfort
Definition
慰 is a bound form used in 慰问 (express sympathy/condolences) and 安慰 (comfort, soothe). It never stands alone — pair it with 问, 藉, or 安.
bound form
to consoleto comfort
Easily confused
- 熨yùnlook-aliketo iron (clothes, fabric)
- 位wèisound-alike(classifier, polite) for people
- 尉wèilook-alikemilitary rank, official rank (bound form)
- 喂wèisound-alike(interjection) hey! hello? (used to attract attention or answer a phone call)
- 喂wèisound-alike(interjection) hello? (used to answer the phone)
- 未wèisound-alikenot yet; have not; did not (formal/literary negation placed before a verb)
Examples
- 。Péng you de huà ràng wǒ gǎn dào hěn ān wèi.My friend's words made me feel very comforted.
- 。Gōng sī pài dài biǎo qù wèi wèn shòu zāi de yuán gōng.The company sent representatives to express sympathy to the affected employees.
- 。Yuè dú yīn yuè gěi le tā xīn líng shàng de wèi jiè.Reading and music provided her with spiritual consolation.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
慰 puts 心 (heart) beside 尉 to show a feeling of comfort, while 尉 gives the sound.
Appears in
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