About
The character "为" derives from an early pictographic representation of a hand guiding an elephant, a concept preserved in its traditional form "爲" that structurally combines the component for claw "爪" positioned above the component for elephant "象", indicating an original meaning related to acting or doing. This form was progressively abbreviated through centuries of cursive handwriting, resulting in the simplified "为", a graph that no longer visually reflects its constituent parts. Initially conveying concrete actions like making or governing, the character's semantic application broadened to include abstract functions such as expressing purpose or representing something, and it further grammaticalized to serve as a preposition meaning "for" or a marker in passive constructions.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我为你高兴。
你为什么不来？
他成为医生了。
我认为这是对的。
他的行为很勇敢。
这本书是为孩子写的。
我们为了学习而努力。
政府为人民服务。