About
The character "为" originates from an early pictographic concept of a hand guiding an elephant, embodying the idea of performing or constructing, with its traditional form "爲" maintaining the distinct elements representing the animal and the hand. Over long periods of stylistic adaptation, the character's structure was condensed into its simplified shape, which obscured the original visual representation. Its meaning initially centered on concrete actions like doing or making, but eventually extended to include abstract grammatical roles, such as functioning as a verb meaning "to be" or serving as a preposition to denote purpose, illustrating a transition from literal activity to broader linguistic application.
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。