Chinese word

为

Pronunciation

Pinyinwèi

Meaning

  • prepositionfor

Example

我为你高兴。wǒ wèi nǐ gāo xìng

I am happy for you.

Illustration for 为 (for)

More examples

她为孩子做早餐。tā wèi hái zi zuò zǎo cān

She makes breakfast for her child.

Core concept

A pointer that connects an action or feeling to the person, goal, cause, or side it serves.

Common phrases

  • 为了健康wèi le jiàn kāng

    for health

  • 为家人wèi jiā rén

    for one's family

  • 为你高兴wèi nǐ gāo xìng

    be happy for you

Similar words

为了wèi le: Marks the purpose of an action or the goal it is meant to achieve.
给gěi: Marks the person or thing that receives something or is the target of an action.
替tì: Shows that an action is done in another person's place or on that person's behalf.

Definition in Chinese

表示为某人或某事的目的、利益或原因，常作介词，置于名词或代词前，用以说明动作或感情所指向的对象或目的。biǎo shì wèi mǒu rén huò mǒu shì de mù dì lì yì huò yuán yīn cháng zuò jiè cí zhì yú míng cí huò dài cí qián yòng yǐ shuō míng dòng zuò huò gǎn qíng suǒ zhǐ xiàng de duì xiàng huò mù dì

Word origin

Modern prepositional 为 (wèi, "for") grew from an older verb meaning "do" or "make", so it came to mark what an action or feeling is done toward or for.

Usage tips

  • English for covers many patterns, but this word can also connect an action with its reason or purpose, so a word-for-word translation can miss the link.

Other meanings

  • in order topreposition
  • because ofpreposition
  • on behalf ofpreposition

Related words

Word lists with this word