Definition
为 (wéi) as a verb means 'to act as, to serve as' and is used in formal patterns like 以...为... ('take...as...') and 称为 ('be called'). It is more formal and written than 当 (dāng), which is the everyday spoken verb for 'to work as' or 'to serve as'. 当作 (dàng zuò) focuses on 'regarding/treating as' rather than an official role.
verb
to act asto serve as (in patterns like 以...为..., 称为, 选为)
Easily confused
- 位wèisound-alike(classifier, polite) for people
- 喂wèisound-alike(interjection) hey! hello? (used to attract attention or answer a phone call)
- 喂wèisound-alike(interjection) hello? (used to answer the phone)
- 未wèisound-alikenot yet; have not; did not (formal/literary negation placed before a verb)
- 唯wéisound-alikeonly, alone
- 味wèisound-aliketaste, flavor
- 围wéisound-aliketo surround, to encircle
- 胃wèisound-alikestomach
- 微wēisound-alikeslightly; a little bit
Examples
- 为。Dàjiā dōu yǐ tā wéi bǎngyàng.Everyone takes him as a role model.
- ""。Zhè zuò chéngshì bèi chēng wéi "chūn chéng".This city is called the 'Spring City'.
- 为。Tā bèi xuǎn wéi wǒmen de bānzhǎng.He was elected as our class monitor.
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