韦
The 韦 radical
Tanned leather
Variants: 韋
Memory hook
Two feet circling a plot of ground — originally 'to encircle', later borrowed for tanned leather: 韧 (tough), 韩 (the surname Han).
The 韦 radical (read wéi) means tanned leather. The HSK 3.0 data contains 2 characters and 2 words built on it — learning them together is far faster than one character at a time.
Practise the 韦 radical
Practise the 2 characters carrying the 韦 radical in correct stroke order: watch, trace, then write from memory.
Characters with the 韦 radical
2 charactersHSK 7-9· 2 characters
HSK 7-9韧
supple, tough
韩
the surname Han
Vocabulary with the 韦 radical
2 wordsWords containing at least one character with the 韦 radical, ordered by HSK level.
tough, resilient, tenacious
toughness; durability
At least 4 words are needed to practise.
Why learn vocabulary by the 韦 radical?
The 韦 radical hints at the meaning tanned leather. When you meet an unfamiliar character carrying it, you already know part of its meaning before reaching for a dictionary — which is why learners who know their radicals move faster.
How to study: read the memory hook, skim the 2 characters to spot the pattern, then drill the 2 words with flashcards. Spaced repetition brings each word back exactly when you need it.