Meaning
畏 expresses a sense of fear, dread, or respectful awe toward something powerful or intimidating. It differs from simple fear (怕) by carrying connotations of reverence or being overawed by something greater than oneself. The character is more formal and literary than everyday spoken Chinese.
Usage
畏 appears most often in written Chinese, formal contexts, and set phrases. Native speakers commonly use it in compounds like 畏惧 (to fear), 敬畏 (to revere), and 无所畏惧 (to fear nothing). In casual conversation, 怕 is more natural for expressing ordinary fear.
Examples
- 01我们应该对大自然心存敬畏。.We should hold nature in reverent awe.
- 02真正的勇士无所畏惧。.True warriors fear nothing.
Common collocations
- 畏惧to fear, to be afraid of
- 敬畏to revere, to stand in awe of
- 无所畏惧to fear nothing, fearless
- 畏缩to cower, to shrink back
Antonyms
Origin
The character 畏 originally depicted a person holding a weapon or standing before something frightening. The radical 田 (field) appears at the top, while the bottom component suggests cowering or retreating, capturing the essence of fearful respect.