为

爲
wéi
#18 most
frequent character
(preposition)
preposition

Character breakdown

Source: Make Me a Hanzi.

为 is a shortened form of 為, which showed a hand leading an elephant at work, so it first meant 'to do'. Read wéi, it grew to 'make' and 'govern'. Read wèi, it means 'for' or 'shall'.

Drawn as: hand guiding elephant; elephant doing labor

为 as a component in other characters

sound2 characters
伪沩

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Example Sentences

这件事为我很重要。
zhè jiàn shì wéiwǒ hěn zhòngyào 。
This matter is very important to me.
这个地方为我们提供了很多帮助。
zhègè dìfāng wéi wǒmen tígōng le hěnduō bāngzhù 。
This place provides us with a lot of help.
他为学生们讲了一个故事。
tā wéi xuéshēng mén jiǎng le yígè gùshì 。
He told a story for the students.

Grammar Points

HSK 4
Using "yi... wei..."以…为
HSK 4
Expressing "mistakenly think that" with "yiwei"

Same Characters, Different Readings

为wéi
(preposition)
HSK 3
为wèi
because of, for, to

Homophones

围wéi
enclose, surround, circle
为wéi
(preposition)
喂wéi
hello (when answering the phone)
维wéi
to preserve, to maintain
惟wéi
-ism, only
韦wéi
soft leather

Words Starting With 为

为期wéi qī
(to be done) by (a certain date); lasting (a certain time)
为难wéi nán
feel embarrassed or awkward; to make things difficult (for someone); to find things difficult (to do or manage)
为首wéi shǒu
head; be headed by

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