纬 (wěi) — latitude (bound form, used in compounds)

Definition

A bound form meaning 'latitude' — only appears as part of compounds like 纬度 ('latitude') or 北纬40度. Pairs with 经 ('longitude').

bound form

latitude (bound form, used in compounds)

Easily confused

。
Zhè tiáo wěi dù xiàn jīng guò chì dào.
This line of latitude passes through the equator.
纬。
Dì tú shàng biāo míng le jīng wěi zuò biāo.
The map shows the longitude and latitude coordinates.
40。
Běi wěi 40 dù yǐ běi dì qū dōng jì hěn lěng.
Areas north of 40 degrees north latitude are very cold in winter.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 緯; 纬 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

糸糸mìthread

Sound part声符shēngfú

韋

韋wéi緯wěi

Same sound today

The traditional form 緯 has 糸, thread, on the left and 韋 on the right for the sound. The simplified 纬 is a later shorthand.