Learn Chinese Characters

Pinyin Syllable

Chinese characters pronounced wei

Learn common Chinese characters pronounced wei, including 为 wèi, 位 wèi, 未 wèi, 委 wēi / wěi, 维 wéi. Compare tones, meanings, traditional forms, words…

How to Pronounce This Syllable

To say wei, ease in through the w- glide, open into ei, and ride the tone across — one continuous sound.

Initial w

Start the syllable on the initial w, then run straight into the final ei — keep them joined instead of sounding out separate English letters.

Final ei

Settle the final ei into a steady mouth shape first, then lay the tone on top.

Study Tip

Start with the most common characters (为 wèi, 位 wèi, 未 wèi, 委 wēi / wěi, 维 wéi) and lock in their tones. 25 common characters share the sound wei, so lean on words to tell the rest apart.

Learn by Tone

wei turns up here with 4 different tones; a change of tone usually means a different character, so the groups below are split by tone.

Common Words With This Sound

Seeing wei inside whole words makes it clear which character is meant — here are common ones.

Characters

25 common characters in this group.

Character#1 wèiact as; take...to be; to be; to do; to serve as; to becomeTraditional: 為 Character#2 wèiposition; location; (measure word for persons); place; seatTraditional: 位 Character#3 wèi1-3 p.m.; 8th earthly branch; not yet; did not; have not; notTraditional: 未 Character#4 wēi / wěicrooked; give up; indeed; to commissionTraditional: 委 Character#5 wéito preserve; to maintain; to hold together; dimensionTraditional: 維 Character#6 wéito circle; to surroundTraditional: 圍 Character#7 wēipower; might; prestigeTraditional: 威 Character#8 wēimicro; tiny; miniatureTraditional: 微 Character#9 wèito guard; to protect; to defend; (surname)Traditional: 衛 Character#10 wēidanger; to endangerTraditional: 危 Character#11 wèitasteTraditional: 味 Character#12 wèispeak ofTraditional: 謂 Character#13 wéi / wěi-ism; only; alone; yesTraditional: 唯 Character#14 wěibig; large; greatTraditional: 偉 Character#15 wéito disobey; to violate; to separate; to go againstTraditional: 違 Character#16 wěitailTraditional: 尾 Character#17 wěifalse; fake; forged; bogusTraditional: 偽 Character#18 wèireassureTraditional: 慰 Character#19 wèi(surname); name of a dynastyTraditional: 魏 Character#20 wéi(surname); soft leatherTraditional: 韋 Character#21 wéi-ism; onlyTraditional: 惟 Character#22 wèistomachTraditional: 胃 Character#23 wèi(interjection) hello; to feed (someone or some animal); hey; telephone greeting; to feedTraditional: 喂 Character#24 wèito fearTraditional: 畏 Character#25 wèi(surname); milit. official; to quietTraditional: 尉