苇 (wěi) — reed (bound form)
Definition
苇 (wěi) is a bound form meaning 'reed' — it never stands alone and is almost always paired with 芦 as 芦苇 (lúwěi, 'reed').
bound form
reed (bound form)
Examples
- 。Lú wěi shì yì zhǒng zhí wù.Reed is a kind of plant.
- 。Zhè piàn hú biān cháng le hěn duō lú wěi.This lake shore has grown many reeds.
- 。Lú wěi kě yǐ yòng lái biān lán zi.Reeds can be used to weave baskets.
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.
This origin belongs to the traditional form 葦; 苇 is its simplified writing.
Meaning part形符xíngfú
艸艸cǎograss
Sound part声符shēngfú
韋
韋wéi葦wěi
Same sound today
The traditional form 葦 pairs 艸 (grass) with 韋 for sound; the simplified 苇 is a later shorthand and its parts are not the historical components.
Appears in
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