为 wèi for
for; for the sake of
wèi (for) and wéi (to act as) - 为什么 wèishénme, 成为 chéngwéi
How to remember 为: 力 power + 丶 a drop + 丶 a drop = for. The power cut leaves not a drop of light in the theatre, so the usher holds up her phone torch for the audience.
Component breakdown
为 = 力 power + 丶 a drop + 丶 a drop
- 力 power
- 丶 a drop
- 丶 a drop
The power cut leaves not a drop of light in the theatre, so the usher holds up her phone torch for the audience.
How it came to be
A hand reaching down to an elephant: somebody leading a working elephant by the trunk. The old sense is to do; work done on behalf of somebody is how it came to mean for.
How it is used
- Read wèi it means for, or for the sake of - 为你 (wèi nǐ) for you, 为了健康 (wèile jiànkāng) for the sake of health.
- Read wéi it means to act as, or to be - 成为 (chéngwéi) become, 认为 (rènwéi) consider.
- Trap: 为什么 (wèishénme) why also uses wèi, the reading that means for.
- 以为 (yǐwéi) to wrongly think is read wéi too, like 认为 and 成为.
Characters built with 为
Words with 为
- 因为yīnwèibecauseHSK 2
- 为什么wèishénmewhy?HSK 2
- 以为yǐwéithink (mistakenly)HSK 3
- 认为rènwéibelieveHSK 3
- 为了wèilein order toHSK 3
- 成为chéngwéibecomeHSK 4
- 作为zuòwéione's conductHSK 4
- 分为fēnwéito divide something into (parts)HSK 4
- 称为chēngwéito be calledHSK 5
- 行为xíngwéiactionHSK 5
- 视为shìwéito view asHSK 5
- 为何wèihéwhyHSK 6
- 为期wéiqīby (a certain date)HSK 6
- 为止wéizhǐuntilHSK 6
- 为此wèicǐfor this reasonHSK 6
- 为难wéinánto feel embarrassed or awkwardHSK 6
- 人为rénwéiartificialHSK 6
- 极为jíwéiextremelyHSK 6
- 较为jiàowéicomparativelyHSK 6
- 不以为然bùyǐwéiránnot to accept as correct (idiom)HSK 7
- 为人wéirénto conduct oneselfHSK 7
- 大为dàwéiveryHSK 7
- 大有可为dàyǒu-kěwéiwith great prospects for the future (idiom)HSK 7
- 尤为yóuwéiespeciallyHSK 7
- 所作所为suǒzuò-suǒwéione's conduct and deedsHSK 7
- 无所作为wúsuǒzuòwéiattempting nothing and accomplishing nothingHSK 7
- 无能为力wúnéngwéilìpowerless to do anything about itHSK 7
- 自以为是zìyǐwéishìto believe oneself infallible (idiom)HSK 7
- 难为情nánwéiqíngembarrassedHSK 7
- 鲜为人知xiǎnwéirénzhīrarely known to anyone (idiom)HSK 7
- 化险为夷huàxiǎnwéiyíto turn peril into safety (idiom)HSK 8
- 见义勇为jiànyì-yǒngwéiusually of a passer-by who comes across a critical situationHSK 9
- 作为zuòwéito act asHSK 9
Example sentences
- 他以务农为生。 Tā yǐ wùnóng wéishēng.He makes a living by farming.
- 工人为社会服务。 Gōngrén wèi shèhuì fúwù.Workers serve society.
- 房间为您安排好了。 Fángjiān wèi nín ānpái hǎo le.The room has been arranged for you.
- 他们设宴为我庆祝。 Tāmen shèyàn wèi wǒ qìngzhù.They held a banquet to celebrate in my honor.