Meaning of 为什么
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- why?
- for what reason?
How to use 为什么
为什么 asks for a reason and usually comes right after the subject or at the start of the sentence. Example: 你为什么不来？(Nǐ wèishénme bù lái?) Why aren't you coming? The answer often starts with 因为 (yīnwèi, because).
Break it into 为 (wèi, for) plus 什么 (shénme, what), so the word literally means "for what". Asking "for what" is the same as asking why.
Common mistake: Learners often say 为 in the second tone (wéi), but in 为什么 it is fourth tone, wèi. Also, 么 is said with a neutral tone, so it is wèi shénme, not wèi shénmè.
为什么 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
为 wèi · because of · 4 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
什 shén · what? mixed · 4 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
么 me · interrogative particle · 3 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
Related words
Words that share a character with 为什么.
| 什么 | shénme | what?; something; anything |
| 怎么 | zěnme | how?; what? |
| 干什么 | gàn shénme | what are you doing?; what's he up to? |
| 没什么 | méi shénme | it doesn't matter; it's nothing; never mind; think nothing of it; it's my pleasure; you're |
| 因为 | yīnwèi | because; owing to; on account of |
| 这么 | zhème | so much; this much |
| 那么 | nàme | like that; in that way; to that extent; (before a number) ... or so; about ... |
| 认为 | rènwéi | to believe; to think; to consider; to feel |
| 怎么样 | zěnmeyàng | how?; how about? |
| 以为 | yǐwéi | to think; to believe (often with the implication that the belief is mistaken – unless refe |
| 成为 | chéngwéi | to become; to turn into |
| 怎么办 | zěnme bàn | what's to be done |
Questions about 为什么
What does 为什么 mean?
为什么 (wèi shénme) means "why?; for what reason?".
How do you write 为什么?
为什么 is made of 3 characters: 为 (4 strokes), 什 (4 strokes), 么 (3 strokes). That is 11 strokes in total.
Is 为什么 an HSK word?
Yes. 为什么 is on the HSK 2 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 为什么 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 为什么 is written 為什麼.
What is the difference between 为什么 and 怎么 when asking why?
Both can ask why, but 怎么 (zěnme) usually adds a sense of surprise or puzzlement, as in 你怎么没来？(Why didn't you come?). 为什么 is a more neutral, direct request for the reason.
Can 为什么 be used on its own as a one-word question?
Yes. Just like "Why?" in English, you can say 为什么？ by itself to ask for a reason after someone makes a statement.