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为 (wéi) — to act as, to serve as (in patterns like 以...为..., 称为, 选为)

Definition

In patterns like 以...为... and 称为/选为, 为 (wéi) marks the result — 'take X as Y'. Compared to 当, it stays inside set phrases rather than standing alone as a verb.

verb
to act asto serve as (in patterns like 以...为..., 称为, 选为)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 为。
    Dà jiā dōu yǐ tā wéi bǎng yàng.
    Everyone takes him as a role model.
  • ""。
    Zhè zuò chéng shì bèi chēng wéi " chūn chéng ".
    This city is called the 'Spring City'.
  • 为。
    Tā bèi xuǎn wéi wǒ men de bān zhǎng.
    He was elected as our class monitor.

Origin

Compound ideograph
六书liùshū
会意huìyì

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
HSK 3.0 Level 4500 Most Frequent Chinese Words1000 Most Frequent Chinese Words2000 Most Frequent Chinese Words3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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