wei he: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Formal, Neutral, Technical
Quick answer
What does “wei he” mean?
To determine the heaviness of something using scales.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To determine the heaviness of something using scales; to assess the relative value or importance of factors before a decision.
To consider or evaluate carefully; to have a specified weight or influence; to be oppressive or burdensome.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or grammatical differences. The spelling of the -ing form ('weighing') and past participle ('weighed') is identical. Potential minor variation in collocational frequency (e.g., 'weigh in' for boxing is universal).
Connotations
Identical across varieties.
Frequency
Equally common and used identically in both UK and US English.
Grammar
How to Use “wei he” in a Sentence
[VN] (weigh something)[V] (intransitive: 'it weighs 5kg')[V+adv/prep] (weigh against/on/with)[VN+adv/prep] (weigh something against something)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “wei he” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Could you weigh this parcel for first class post?
- The jury must weigh all the evidence carefully.
- The responsibility began to weigh heavily on him.
American English
- You should weigh the pros and cons before accepting the offer.
- This box weighs at least fifty pounds.
- Her opinion weighed heavily with the committee.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
To assess the financial implications or risks of a decision. 'The board will weigh the investment against the potential market returns.'
Academic
To evaluate evidence, arguments, or data. 'The study weighs the competing theories against the empirical findings.'
Everyday
To check one's body weight or the weight of an object. 'I need to weigh this parcel before posting it.'
Technical
In science/engineering: to measure mass using a calibrated device. 'The sample must be weighed to the nearest milligram.'
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “wei he”
- Incorrect: 'I weight 70 kg.' (Uses noun instead of verb) Correct: 'I weigh 70 kg.'
- Incorrect: 'She weighted the flour.' (Uses adjective/verb form for 'having weight') Correct: 'She weighed the flour.'
- Confusion with 'way' (a path/method) due to identical pronunciation.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Weigh' is a verb meaning to measure how heavy something is. 'Weight' is a noun referring to the measurement itself (e.g., 'The weight of the box is 2kg').
It is a regular verb. The past tense and past participle are both 'weighed' (pronounced /weɪd/).
Yes, in its intransitive sense to state how heavy someone/something is (e.g., 'I weigh 80kg'). It can also be used intransitively in phrases like 'weigh on my mind'.
It has two main meanings: 1) In sports like boxing, to be officially weighed before a fight. 2) To join a discussion or argument by giving an opinion (e.g., 'The manager weighed in with her approval').
To determine the heaviness of something using scales.
Wei he is usually formal, neutral, technical in register.
Wei he: in British English it is pronounced /weɪ/, and in American English it is pronounced /weɪ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “weigh anchor”
- “weigh one's words”
- “weigh a ton”
- “weigh in the balance”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the phrase 'WEIGH your options' – the 'EI' in WEIGH is like the 'EI' in HEIGHT, another word about measurement.
Conceptual Metaphor
THINKING IS WEIGHING (evaluating ideas is like measuring their mass/importance); GUILT/WORRY IS A HEAVY BURDEN (it weighs on you).
Practice
Quiz
In the sentence 'The bad news weighed on her all day,' what does 'weighed on' mean?