为名 (wéi míng) — to use as a name or pretext

Definition

为 (wéi) here is a classical verb meaning 'in the name of' or 'under the pretext of' — the action that follows is a false label for the real motive. Always used after 以 (yǐ), as in 以…为名.

verb
to use as a name or pretext

Examples

  • 为名，。
    Tā yǐ lǚ yóu wéi míng, shí jì shang shì zài táo bì gōng zuò.
    He used traveling as a pretext; in reality he was avoiding work.
  • 为名，。
    Zhè jiā gōng sī yǐ cí shàn wéi míng, què zhuàn le hěn duō qián.
    This company used charity as a name, but made a lot of money.
  • 为名。
    Wǒ men bù néng yǐ ài wéi míng shāng hài bié rén.
    We can't hurt others in the name of love.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

为wèias
名míngname

为名 puts 为 (as) with 名 (name), giving the sense of using something as a name or pretext.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 為; 为 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 為 showed a hand holding an elephant; the simplified 为 is a later shorthand.

Open 为 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

名 puts 夕 (crescent moon) above 口 (mouth), showing a name spoken in the dark.

Open 名 →

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