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HSK 3

位

polite measure word for people; position

measure wordpolite
位
wèi4th tone

HSK level

1
2
3
4
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6
Pinyin
wèi
Part of speech
measure word
Level
HSK 3
Strokes
7
Register
polite

Stroke order for 位

位 is written with 7 strokes. The animation replays automatically.

What does 位 mean?

位 (wèi) is the polite measure word for people — the respectful counterpart to the everyday 个 (gè).

Use it for guests, customers, teachers, elders, professionals, audience members, or anyone you wish to honor: 三位老师 ('three teachers'), 这位先生 ('this gentleman'), 各位朋友 ('everyone, friends'). Service workers default to 位 to be polite: 'How many people?' at a restaurant is 几位？ not 几个人？.

Importantly, NEVER use 位 to count children, criminals, bad people, or yourself — it elevates the noun. Beyond the measure-word use, 位 also functions as a standalone noun meaning 'position / place / seat' (座位 'seat,' 位置 'position / location,' 学位 'academic degree'). The character is everywhere in formal Chinese and is one of the most useful HSK 3 measure words to learn early.

Note: 位 is the polite / respectful measure word for people. Use it for guests, teachers, customers, elders, or anyone you want to show respect to. For yourself or close friends, use 个; saying 我是一位学生 is overly formal — say 我是一个学生 or just 我是学生.

Memory hook: 亻(person radical) + 立 (stand) → a person standing in their place. Use it when honoring someone's place / standing.

Example sentences

请问几位？

Qǐng wèn jǐ wèi?

How many people, please?

polite

这位是我的老师。

Zhè wèi shì wǒ de lǎoshī.

This is my teacher.

polite

各位早上好！

Gè wèi zǎoshang hǎo!

Good morning, everyone!

formal

我们公司来了三位新员工。

Wǒmen gōngsī lái le sān wèi xīn yuángōng.

Three new employees joined our company.

neutral

Common phrases with 位

几位jǐ wèihow many (polite, esp. at a restaurant)
这位zhè wèithis gentleman/lady
各位gè wèieveryone (polite address)
一位老师yí wèi lǎoshīone teacher (polite)
座位zuòwèiseat

Synonyms

个gè

个 is the everyday / neutral measure word for people. 位 is the polite version. Use 个 for friends, yourself, casual references; 位 for guests, elders, customers, anyone you respect.

名míng

名 counts people by occupation or role in a formal / written register (三名学生 'three students,' 两名警察 'two policemen'). 位 emphasizes respect; 名 emphasizes formal enumeration.

Don't confuse 位 with

为wèi

Same pinyin wèi but 为 is a preposition meaning 'for / for the sake of.' Different character, different function. 一位老师 (one teacher, polite) vs 为老师 (for the teacher).

味wèi

味 means 'taste / flavor / smell' (味道 'taste'). Same pinyin but unrelated meaning. 口 (mouth) radical on left.

个gè

个 is the general measure word. Don't say 一位我朋友 ('one polite-MW my friend') — for friends use 个. And never use 位 for non-respected nouns (criminals, children, oneself).

Frequently asked questions

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