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唯

Mandarin · pinyin wéi#

only
alone
-ism (in Chinese, a prefix, often combined with a suffix such as 主義 zhǔ yì or 論 lùn, e.g. 唯理論 wéi lǐ lùn, rationalism)

Mandarin · pinyin wěi#

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Characters in this entry

唯: wéi · only; yes

Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

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Mandarin tones

2 · wei2

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1character link47same-tone records3source references

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Read this spelling in Classical texts

Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.

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Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 9 senses · 3 Cantonese readings

Rime Cantonese 粵拼

wai2 · wai4 · wai5

Cantonese word readings for 唯. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.

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Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.

character

(alt. form 維／维, 惟) to be
(alt. form 維／维, 惟) An introductory particle marking noun phrases as the topic
(alt. form 惟) only; alone
(literary) because
although
(literary) to allow (often used with 所)
Particle for expressing one's wish.
(alt. form 維／维, 惟) Meaningless sentence-initial particle.

character

(obsolete) A polite particle used to respond to elders: yes

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