围 (wéi) is a Chinese character meaning “to surround”. It is written from 囗 (enclosure, surrounding frame) and 韦 (wéi — tanned/softened leather; the simplified form of 韋, also used as a sound part), one enclosing the other, and takes 7 strokes.
Build the character for “to surround”
Four steps: break it apart, build it, recall it, use it in a word.
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Structure
囗 + 韦
Enclosing structure
- 囗 enclosure, surrounding frame · wéi meaning
- 韦 wéi — tanned/softened leather; the simplified form of 韋, also used as a sound part · wéi sound
Structure from: 说文解字《圍》：守也。从囗韋聲（简化字「围」保留囗＋韦的现代字形拆分，已对照 hanzi-writer-data 笔画核验 3+4=7）
Memory aid
A frame (囗) closes in on 韦 from every side — nothing gets out. That is what 围 does: it surrounds.
This is a memory aid, not the historical origin.
Stroke order
7 strokes
In real words
- 围巾wéi jīnscarf围 = wéi
- 周围zhōu wéisurroundings; around围 = wéi
- 氛围fēn wéiambience; surrounding atmosphere围 = wéi
- 范围fàn wéiscope; range; extent围 = wéi
- 围绕wéi ràoto revolve around; to surround; to center on围 = wéi
Go deeper
All readings
to surround
to surround; to enclose; to wrap around; a perimeter or circumference
环绕、包围；也指围绕一圈的东西或周长。 — studyhanzi 编写
Words with this reading
- 围巾wéi jīnscarf围 = wéi
- 周围zhōu wéisurroundings; around围 = wéi
- 氛围fēn wéiambience; surrounding atmosphere围 = wéi
- 范围fàn wéiscope; range; extent围 = wéi
- 围绕wéi ràoto revolve around; to surround; to center on围 = wéi
Sound component
韦 family exact
Stroke data: hanzi-writer-data (Arphic Public License) · licenses & attributions
Questions people ask about this character
What does 围 mean?
围 (wéi) means to surround; to enclose; to wrap around; a perimeter or circumference.
How do you pronounce 围?
It is pronounced wéi.
What parts is 围 made of?
囗 (enclosure, surrounding frame) and 韦 (wéi — tanned/softened leather; the simplified form of 韋, also used as a sound part), one enclosing the other. The recorded source is: 说文解字《圍》：守也。从囗韋聲（简化字「围」保留囗＋韦的现代字形拆分，已对照 hanzi-writer-data 笔画核验 3+4=7）. Components are the building blocks of the shape; the radical used for dictionary lookup is a separate thing.
How many strokes does 围 have?
7. You can watch the stroke order on this page, or trace it yourself.
What is the radical of 围?
囗. The radical is how the character is filed in a dictionary — it is not the whole story of how the character is built.
What words use 围?
Common ones are 围巾 and 周围. The reading of 围 is not the same in every word, so each word on this page shows which reading applies.