惟 meaning and stroke order
But, however, nevertheless; only
How to write 惟, 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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Meaning of 惟
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- -ism
- only
How 惟 is built
Components of the character.
Radical: 忄 (heart), shared by 167 characters on this site.
How to remember 惟
惟 combines the heart radical 忄 with 隹 (zhuī), a short-tailed bird. Picture a heart fixed on one single bird. You think of only that one, which fits the meaning "only."
惟 (wéi) is mostly literary or formal today. It means "only" or "but," and it appears in set phrases and written styles. Example: 惟一的办法 (wéiyī de bànfǎ), the only way. Most modern writers use 唯 instead in this word.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 惟 with 唯 (mouth radical) and 维 (silk radical), because all three are read wéi and share 隹. In everyday modern writing, "only" is usually spelled 唯一 (wéiyī), so writing 维一 is simply wrong.
Common words with 惟
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 惟一 | wéiyī | variant of 唯一[wei2 yi1] |
Questions about 惟
How many strokes are in 惟?
惟 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 惟 mean?
惟 (wéi) means but, however, nevertheless; only. A common word with it is 惟一 (wéiyī), meaning "variant of 唯一[wei2 yi1]".
How do you pronounce 惟?
惟 is pronounced wéi, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 惟?
The radical of 惟 is 忄, which carries the idea of "heart". Dictionaries list 惟 under this radical.
Is 惟一 or 唯一 correct?
Both are accepted. 惟一 is listed as a variant of 唯一. Today 唯一 is the standard and far more common spelling, so use it in your own writing.
Does 惟 have anything to do with thinking?
The heart radical 忄 often marks characters about the mind, and 惟 shows up in classical writing. For the modern dictionary senses here, though, focus on "only," "but," and the suffix "-ism."