How to Write 巍 (wēi) — Meaning “lofty; majestic”

Imagine a ghost (鬼) climbing a steep mountain (山) under the moon — the ghost looks tiny against the towering peak, making you say "wēi, that's majestic!" Connect the sound 'wei' to the English word 'weigh' by thinking that a majestic mountain is too heavy to weigh.

This character has 20 strokes, so keep the proportions balanced: the top 山 should be wide and flat, while the lower section (around 嵬) is slightly taller. A common mistake is making the 鬼 component too narrow — ensure the left side has a proper 白 (white) shape and the right 厶 (private) hook extends smoothly.

巍 (wēi) means 'towering and majestic,' focusing on grandeur and dignity, while 巅 (diān) means 'summit' or 'peak' and is used for the very top of a mountain. 巆 (yíng or hōng) is rare and usually describes a steep, rocky cliff; 巍 is far more common in literary or formal contexts for describing anything magnificently tall.

巍 appears in poetic or formal descriptions of mountains, buildings, or historical monuments — for example, 巍峨 (wēi'é) describes the Great Wall or a temple. It is also used in names like 巍山 (a county in Yunnan) or company names to convey strength and permanence, but it is not common in everyday conversation.

Common words containing 巍 include: 巍峨 (wēi é) — towering; majestic; 巍然 (wēi rán) — towering; imposing; 巍巍 (wēi wēi) — towering; majestic.