痿 meaning and stroke order
Paralysis; impotence
How to write 痿, stroke by stroke
13 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 痿
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- atrophy
How 痿 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Sickness.
疒 gives the meaning and 委 hints at the sound.
Radical: 疒 (sickness), shared by 127 characters on this site.
How to remember 痿
The sickness radical 疒 wraps around 委 (wěi), which gives the sound. Picture an illness that makes the body droop and lose strength, and you have 痿, a wasting or paralyzing condition.
痿 is a medical and literary character and rarely appears alone in modern speech. Most learners meet it in the word 阳痿 (yángwěi, impotence) or in traditional medicine terms for muscle atrophy. Example: 医生说这是阳痿的症状。(Yīshēng shuō zhè shì yángwěi de zhèngzhuàng.) The doctor said this is a symptom of impotence.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 痿 with 萎 (wěi, to wither), which has the grass radical 艹 and is used for plants and for 萎缩 (wěisuō, to shrink). Use 疒 for a medical condition of the body and 艹 for withering in general.
Common words with 痿
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 阳痿 | yángwěi | (medicine) impotence |
痿 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 痿
How many strokes are in 痿?
痿 is written with 13 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 痿 mean?
痿 (wěi) means paralysis; impotence. A common word with it is 阳痿 (yángwěi), meaning "(medicine) impotence".
How do you pronounce 痿?
痿 is pronounced wěi, in the third tone (dipping).
What is the radical of 痿?
The radical of 痿 is 疒, which carries the idea of "sickness". Dictionaries list 痿 under this radical.
Is 阳痿 a polite word to use?
阳痿 is the standard medical term, so it is fine with a doctor or in writing. In casual conversation people may avoid it because the topic is private, not because the word is rude.
What does 痿 mean in traditional Chinese medicine?
In traditional Chinese medicine, 痿 refers to a condition where the limbs become weak, soft, and wasted, often called 痿证 (wěizhèng). It describes loss of strength and muscle, not pain.