Definition
为 (wéi) as a preposition means 'as, in the capacity of' — it introduces the role or identity someone acts in. It is more formal and written than 作为 (zuò wéi), which is the everyday spoken word for the same meaning. Unlike 对于 (duì yú, 'regarding'), 为 focuses on the role itself, not the topic.
preposition
asin the capacity of
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。Tā wéi lǎoshī bāng le wǒ hěn duō.She helped me a lot as a teacher.
- 为。Dàjiā xuǎn tā wéi dàibiǎo.Everyone chose him as the representative.
- 。Tā yǐ huàjiā wéi míng.He is famous as a painter.
Browse more HSK 5 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.