宏伟 (hóng wěi) — grand, magnificent, imposing

Definition

Emphasizes physical scale and imposing presence — buildings, structures, visions. 比 雄伟 less tied to natural/military grandeur; 比 宏大 more concrete and visual.

adjective
grandmagnificentimposing

Examples

  • 宏伟
    Zhè zuò dà qiáo shí fēn hóng wěi, shì chéng shì de biāo zhì xìng jiàn zhù.
    This bridge is very grand; it's a landmark building of the city.
  • 宏伟
    Tā men tí chū le yí gè hóng wěi de fā zhǎn lán tú.
    They put forward a magnificent blueprint for development.
  • 宏伟
    Gù gōng de jiàn zhù qún qì shì hóng wěi, lìng rén zhèn hàn.
    The architectural complex of the Forbidden City is imposing and awe-inspiring.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

wěigreat

宏 and 伟 both express grandness, giving a sense of magnificence.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 宏 →

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 偉; 伟 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
Written in full asrén
Sound part声符shēngfú
wéiwěi
Same sound today

The traditional form 偉 combines 亻, a person, with 韋, which gives the sound. The simplified 伟 is a later shorthand.

Open 伟 →

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