为
wéi
variant of 為|为[wei2]
为 — the 'do / act as / for' workhorse character
为 is a simplified form of 為, which originally depicted a hand guiding an elephant — a vivid image of human effort and purposeful action. Over time it grammaticalized into one of Chinese's most versatile verbs and prepositions, meaning 'to do,' 'to act as,' or 'for the sake of.'
Words with 为
进退为难
jìn tuì wéi nán
no room to advance or to retreat (idiom); without any way out of a dilemma
逼良为娼
bī liáng wéi chāng
to force an honest girl into prostitution (idiom)
道不同不相为谋
dào bù tóng bù xiāng wéi móu
lit. persons who walk different paths cannot make plans together
医之好治不病以为功
yī zhī hào zhì bù bìng yǐ wéi gōng
doctors like to treat those who are not sick so that they can get credit for the patient's "recovery" (idiom)
量入为出
liàng rù wéi chū
to assess one's income and spend accordingly (idiom); to live within one's means
量力而为
liàng lì ér wéi
to weigh one's abilities and act accordingly
难为
nán wei
to bother
难为情
nán wéi qíng
embarrassed
颇为
pō wéi
rather
养虎为患
yǎng hǔ wéi huàn
lit. to nurture a tiger invites calamity
惊为天人
jīng wéi tiān rén
lit. to be astonished as if beholding a heavenly being (idiom)
鲜为人知
xiǎn wéi rén zhī
rarely known to anyone (idiom); almost unknown