How to Write 纬 (wěi) — Meaning “Latitude / Weft”

Think of the right part 韦 sounding like "way" — a horizontal way across silk fabric. That "way" is the weft thread, and Earth's latitude lines also run horizontally. This visual helps you remember that 纬 means both weft and latitude.

Write the left radical 纟 first with three quick strokes, then the right part 韦 with four strokes. The horizontal stroke in 韦 should line up with the middle of the left radical to keep the character balanced. A common mistake is making the right part too wide, which throws off the proportion.

纠 (jiū) has a right side meaning "knot" and means "to correct" or "twist", while 纡 (yū) has a right side meaning "to bend" and means "to twist" or "to wind". 纬 specifically refers to horizontal lines or threads, unlike the twisting or correcting ideas of the other two.

纬 is commonly used in geography (纬度 = latitude) and textile terms (经纬 = warp and weft). It appears in formal and technical contexts, such as 北纬 (běi wěi) for "north latitude" in weather reports and maps. The character is not in HSK, so it is more advanced but useful for learners interested in science or textiles.

Common words containing 纬 include: 纬度 (wěi dù) — Latitude; 北纬 (běi wěi) — North latitude; 经纬 (jīng wěi) — Longitude and latitude..