About
The traditional character 為 began as a pictograph of a hand guiding an elephant, reflecting the historical use of elephants for labor. This image abstracted into the general verbs "to do", "to act", or "to serve as", pronounced wéi. The simplified form 为, derived from cursive script, reduces the structure to the "power" component 力 surrounded by dots. When pronounced wèi, it functions as a preposition meaning "for" or "because of", indicating the beneficiary or cause of an action.
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。