偎依 (wēi yī) — to snuggle up to; to lean close to

Definition

A literary, affectionate verb meaning to snuggle or nestle close to someone — often a child with a parent, a couple, or a pet. It describes a gentle, tender leaning-in rather than an active hug.

verb
to snuggle up toto lean close to

Examples

  • 偎依。
    Xiǎo nǚ hái jǐn jǐn dì wēi yī zài mā ma huái lǐ.
    The little girl snuggled up tightly in her mother's arms.
  • ，偎依。
    Tā men liǎ zuò zài cháng yǐ shàng, bǐ cǐ wēi yī zhe.
    The two of them sat on the bench, leaning close to each other.
  • 偎依，。
    Xiǎo māo wēi yī zài wǒ de jiǎo biān, bù kěn lí kāi.
    The kitten snuggled up at my feet, unwilling to leave.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

偎wēicuddle
依yīlean

偎 and 依 both mean close contact; together express snuggling.

Characters in this word

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
人人rénman; person
Sound part声符shēngfú
畏
畏wèi偎wēi
Same sound today

偎 pairs 人 (person) with 畏, which gives the sound; the 人 part relates to a person.

Open 偎 →

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
亻Written in full as人rénhuman
Sound part声符shēngfú
衣
衣yī依yī
Same sound today

依 is made from 亻, a person, plus 衣, which gives its sound.

Open 依 →

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