Meaning
围 means to surround or encircle something, creating a boundary or perimeter around it. It can refer to physical encirclement like people gathering around something, or abstract contexts like being surrounded by problems. As a noun, it refers to the surrounding area or perimeter itself.
Usage
Commonly used in both concrete situations (people围观 gathering around to watch something) and abstract contexts (被问题围困 being besieged by problems). Often appears in compounds relating to boundaries, enclosures, and circumference. The traditional form 圍 is used in Taiwan and Hong Kong.
Examples
- 01学生们围着老师问问题。.The students gathered around the teacher asking questions.
- 02他们用篱笆把花园围起来了。.They enclosed the garden with a fence.
Measure words
- 圈围了一圈人
Common collocations
- 围着...转...to revolve around...
- 围成一圈to form a circle
- 四周围all around, on all sides
Origin
The traditional character 圍 contains the enclosure radical 囗 (wéi) representing an enclosed space, with 韋 (wéi) providing the phonetic component. The simplified version 围 retains the enclosure radical with 韦 simplified.