How to Write 尾 (wěi) — Meaning “tail; end”

Imagine a dead body (尸) with a single long hair (毛) sticking out from its bottom - that hair is the tail. This funny mental picture helps you link the two components and the meaning of 'tail' or 'end.'

First write the radical 尸: horizontal stroke, then another horizontal, then a left-falling stroke. Then add 毛: start with a left-falling stroke, two horizontals, and finish with a vertical hook that curls upward. A common mistake is making the last hook too tight or straight - it should have a clear curve like a tail.

尻 (kāo) also has 尸 on top but has 九 (nine) below, and means 'rump' or 'buttocks' - it is the very end of the spine, not a furry tail. 尼 (ní) has 尸 plus 匕 (dagger), and means 'Buddhist nun' - its shape is unrelated to body parts. Visually, 尾 has 毛 (hair) underneath, while the others do not.

尾 appears in common words like 尾巴 (wěi ba, tail), 结尾 (jié wěi, ending or conclusion), and 年尾 (nián wěi, end of the year). It often implies something at the very end or leftover, and in cultural phrases, 'tail' can also mean a follower or the final part of a story.

Common words containing 尾 include: 尾巴 (wěi ba) — tail; 结尾 (jié wěi) — Ending or conclusion.; 年尾 (nián wěi) — End of the year.