(wéi) — mast (bound form, usually in 桅杆)

Definition

Bound form meaning 'mast', almost always seen as the first character of 桅杆 (mast). On its own 桅 is not used as a standalone word.

bound form
mast (bound form, usually in 桅杆)

Examples

  • Chuán shàng de wéi gān zài fēng bào zhōng zhé duàn le.
    The mast on the ship broke in the storm.
  • Shuǐ shǒu pá shàng gāo gāo de wéi gān guān chá hǎi miàn.
    The sailor climbed the tall mast to observe the sea surface.
  • Zhè sōu chuán de wéi gān shì yòng mù tou zuò de.
    This ship's mast is made of wood.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

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
wood
Sound part声符shēngfú
wēiwéi
Same sound today

桅 pairs 木, indicating a wooden object, with 危, which points to the pronunciation wēi.

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.