为 meaning and stroke order
Because of; for; to
How to write 为, stroke by stroke
4 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
Meaning of 为
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- because of
- for
- to
- variant of 為|为[wei4]
- as (in the capacity of)
- to take sth as
- to act as
- to serve as
- to behave as
- to become
How 为 is built
Components of the character.
Radical: 丶 (dot), shared by 7 characters on this site.
How to remember 为
Look for 力 (lì, strength) inside 为, with two dots around it like drops of sweat. Putting in strength and effort is how you act or do something, and doing things for a reason gives the sense "for" or "because of."
为 has two readings. As wèi it means "for" or "because of," as in 为什么 (wèi shénme, why) and 为了 (wèile, in order to). As wéi it means "to act as" or "to become," as in 成为 (chéngwéi) and 认为 (rènwéi). Example: 你为什么不来？(Nǐ wèi shénme bù lái?) Why aren't you coming?
Common mistake: Learners often say every 为 with the fourth tone. In 认为, 以为, 成为 and 行为 it is second tone wéi, so rènwéi, not rènwèi. A common usage trap is 以为 (yǐwéi), which often means you thought something that turned out to be wrong. 认为 (rènwéi) simply states your opinion.
Common words with 为
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 为什么 | wèi shénme | why?; for what reason? | HSK 2 |
| 因为 | yīnwèi | because; owing to; on account of | HSK 2 |
| 认为 | rènwéi | to believe; to think; to consider; to feel | HSK 2 |
| 以为 | yǐwéi | to think; to believe (often with the implication that the belief is mistaken – unless refe | HSK 2 |
| 成为 | chéngwéi | to become; to turn into | HSK 2 |
| 行为 | xíngwéi | action; conduct; behavior; activity | HSK 2 |
| 为了 | wèile | for; for the purpose of; in order to | HSK 3 |
| 称为 | chēngwéi | to be called; to be known as; to call it "..." | HSK 3 |
| 变为 | biànwéi | to change into | HSK 3 |
| 作为 | zuòwéi | one's conduct; deed | HSK 4 |
| 列为 | lièwéi | to be classified as | HSK 4 |
| 分为 | fēnwéi | to divide sth into (parts); to subdivide | HSK 4 |
| 为止 | wéizhǐ | until; (used in combination with words like 到[dao4] or 至[zhi4] in constructs of the form 到 | HSK 5 |
| 为难 | wéinán | to feel embarrassed or awkward; to make things difficult (for someone) | HSK 5 |
为 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 为
Learning 为 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 为
How many strokes are in 为?
为 is written with 4 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 为 mean?
为 (wèi) means because of; for; to. A common word with it is 为什么 (wèi shénme), meaning "why?; for what reason?".
How do you pronounce 为?
为 is pronounced wèi, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 为?
The radical of 为 is 丶, which carries the idea of "dot". Dictionaries list 为 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 为?
The traditional form of 为 is 為 and 爲. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 为 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 为 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 为 is part of the HSK 2 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 1.
How do I know whether 为 is read wèi or wéi?
Use wèi when it means "for" or "because of," as in 为了, 为什么 and 因为. Use wéi when it means "to be, to act as, to become" or "to consider as," as in 成为, 称为 and 认为.
What is the difference between 为了 and 因为?
为了 (wèile) gives a purpose or goal, like "in order to." 因为 (yīnwèi) gives a cause, like "because." For example, 为了学中文 means "in order to study Chinese," but 因为下雨 means "because it is raining."