(wèi) - To say & to call

Tone 4

wèi | 16 strokes | radical:

· wèi

To say;

to call;

to mean;

to refer to;

to comment;

to evaluate;

to criticize.

To sayto callto mean

Usage highlights

To meanTo comment onWhat is calledTo be calledTo say to someoneTo evaluate as

Synonyms

  • to say, to speak
  • to call, to name
  • to say (classical)
  • to say (classical)

Antonyms

  • silent, not speaking
  • to seal, to keep silent

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • What do you mean by that?(何谓也?)
  • This is what we call a masterpiece.(此之谓杰作)
  • He commented on the current situation.(他谓及现状)
  • The so-called expert gave his opinion.(所谓的专家发表了他的看法)

Collocations

  • To mean(所谓)
  • To comment on(谓及)
  • What is called(何谓)
  • To be called(谓之)
  • To say to someone(谓某人曰)
  • To evaluate as(谓为)

Idioms

  • What is called virtue?(何谓德?)
  • This is what we call a true friend.(此之谓真友)
  • People say that time is money.(人谓时间即金钱)
  • It is hard to please everyone.(众口难谓)
  • To call black white(谓黑为白)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Classical Chinese character frequently used in philosophical and literary contexts.
  • Commonly appears in classical texts like Confucian works for definitions and explanations.
  • Used in formal speech and writing to denote naming, describing, or evaluating.

FAQ