遗 (wèi) — to give (as a gift); to bestow (in classical or formal contexts)
Definition
A bound, classical form meaning 'to give as a gift / bestow.' Always used in set phrases (e.g. 赠遗, 遗之); it never stands alone as a main verb in modern Chinese.
bound form
to give (as a gift)to bestow (in classical or formal contexts)
Easily confused
- 遣qiǎnlook-alike(bound form) to send, to dispatch
- 位wèisound-alike(classifier, polite) for people
- 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)
- 味wèisound-aliketaste, flavor
Examples
- 遗。Tā zèng wèi wǒ jīn zi.He gave me gold.
- 遗。Fù qīn zèng wèi wǒ yì bǎ bǎo dāo.My father bestowed a precious sword upon me.
- 遗，。Tā yǐ lǐ wù zèng wèi tā rén, qíng yì shēn hòu.He gave gifts to others with deep sincerity.
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 遺; 遗 is its simplified writing.
Meaning part形符xíngfú
辶Written in full as辵chuòmove
Sound part声符shēngfú
貴
貴guì遺yí
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
The traditional form 遺 pairs 辶 (move) with 貴 as a sound part; the simplified 遗 is a shorthand, and its right side is not the old sound part.
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