為 meaning and stroke order
To do, to act; to handle, to govern; to be
How to write 為, stroke by stroke
12 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 為
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- as (in the capacity of)
- to take sth as
- to act as
- to serve as
- to behave as
- to become
- because of
- for
- to
How 為 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. A hand 爫 leading an elephant.
Radical: 灬 (fire), shared by 28 characters on this site.
How to remember 為
The top part 爫 is a hand, and the rest of the character pictures an elephant, with 灬 at the bottom like its feet. A hand leading an elephant to work is a picture of doing and acting.
為 is the traditional form of 为. Read wéi it means to act as or to become, as in 成為 (chéngwéi). Read wèi it means for or because of, as in 為什麼 (wèi shénme). Example: 你為什麼不來？(Nǐ wèi shénme bù lái?) Why aren't you coming?
Common mistake: Learners often use one tone for every word. It is wèi in 為什麼 and 為了, but wéi in 認為, 以為, 成為 and 行為. Also, 灬 at the bottom is four separate dots, so do not write it as one line.
Common words with 為
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 為什麼 | wèi shénme | why?; for what reason? | HSK 2 |
| 因為 | yīnwèi | because; owing to; on account of | HSK 2 |
| 認為 | rènwéi | to believe; to think; to consider; to feel | HSK 2 |
| 以為 | yǐwéi | to think; to believe (often with the implication that the belief is mistaken – unless refe | HSK 2 |
| 成為 | chéngwéi | to become; to turn into | HSK 2 |
| 行為 | xíngwéi | action; conduct; behavior; activity | HSK 2 |
| 為了 | wèile | for; for the purpose of; in order to | HSK 3 |
| 稱為 | chēngwéi | to be called; to be known as; to call it "..." | HSK 3 |
| 變為 | biànwéi | to change into | HSK 3 |
| 作為 | zuòwéi | one's conduct; deed | HSK 4 |
| 列為 | lièwéi | to be classified as | HSK 4 |
| 分為 | fēnwéi | to divide sth into (parts); to subdivide | HSK 4 |
| 為止 | wéizhǐ | until; (used in combination with words like 到[dao4] or 至[zhi4] in constructs of the form 到 | HSK 5 |
| 為難 | wéinán | to feel embarrassed or awkward; to make things difficult (for someone) | HSK 5 |
Characters that contain 為
Learning 為 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 為
How many strokes are in 為?
為 is written with 12 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 為 mean?
為 (wèi) means to do, to act; to handle, to govern; to be. A common word with it is 为什么 (wèi shénme), meaning "why?; for what reason?".
How do you pronounce 為?
為 is pronounced wèi, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 為?
The radical of 為 is 灬, which carries the idea of "fire". Dictionaries list 為 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 為?
為 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 为, used in mainland China and Singapore.
What is the difference between 認為 and 以為?
Both mean to think. 認為 (rènwéi) states an opinion you hold. 以為 (yǐwéi) often means you thought something that turned out to be wrong, as in 我以為你走了 (Wǒ yǐwéi nǐ zǒu le), I thought you had left.
How is 為了 different from 因為?
為了 (wèile) gives a purpose or goal, meaning in order to or for the sake of. 因為 (yīnwèi) gives a cause, meaning because. Compare 為了健康 (for my health) with 因為生病 (because I was sick).