偎 meaning and stroke order
To cling to, to cuddle, to embrace, to fondle
How to write 偎, stroke by stroke
11 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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- 11
Meaning of 偎
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to cuddle
How 偎 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. To cling to someone 亻 in fear 畏; 畏 also provides the pronunciation.
Radical: 亻 (man), shared by 277 characters on this site.
How to remember 偎
偎 combines the person radical 亻 with 畏 (wèi, to fear). Picture a person who is afraid and clings tightly to someone else for comfort.
偎 is rarely used alone in modern Chinese. It mostly appears in the word 依偎 (yīwēi), which describes snuggling or nestling against someone. Example: 孩子依偎在妈妈怀里。(Háizi yīwēi zài māma huái lǐ.) The child snuggled in his mother's arms.
Common mistake: Learners often read 偎 as wèi because of its sound component 畏 (wèi). The correct tone is first tone, wēi. Also do not confuse it with 喂 (wèi, to feed; hello), which shares 畏 but has the mouth radical 口.
Common words with 偎
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 依偎 | yīwēi | to nestle against; to snuggle up to |
Questions about 偎
How many strokes are in 偎?
偎 is written with 11 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 偎 mean?
偎 (wēi) means to cling to, to cuddle, to embrace, to fondle. A common word with it is 依偎 (yīwēi), meaning "to nestle against; to snuggle up to".
How do you pronounce 偎?
偎 is pronounced wēi, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 偎?
The radical of 偎 is 亻, which carries the idea of "man". Dictionaries list 偎 under this radical.
What is the difference between 依偎 and 拥抱?
拥抱 (yōngbào) means to hug, with arms actively wrapped around someone. 依偎 (yīwēi) is softer and means leaning or nestling against someone, often quietly and for comfort.
Can 偎 describe things other than people?
Yes, in descriptive writing 依偎 can be used for animals or even objects placed close together, such as small houses nestled against a hill. It keeps the feeling of closeness and leaning.