颇为 (pō wéi) — (formal adverb) quite, rather, somewhat

Definition

颇为 (pōwéi) is a formal written adverb meaning 'quite, rather, somewhat' — it modifies adjectives or verbs and is more literary than everyday 很 or 相当.

verb

(formal adverb) quiterathersomewhat

颇为。
Tā duì zhè ge jié guǒ pō wéi mǎn yì.
He is quite satisfied with this result.
颇为。
Wǒ pō wéi dān xīn tā de jiàn kāng zhuàng kuàng.
I am rather worried about her health condition.
颇为，。
Zhè ge wèn tí pō wéi fù zá, xū yào zǐ xì fēn xī.
This problem is quite complex and requires careful analysis.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 頗; 颇 is its simplified writing.

皮頁頗

Meaning part形符xíngfú

頁頁yè

Sound part声符shēngfú

皮

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 頗 pairs 皮 as a sound part with 頁 as a meaning part; the simplified 颇 is a later shorthand.

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.

Appears in