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化为 (huà wéi) — to change into; to become (formal/literary)

Definition

A formal/literary verb meaning 'change into / become' — used in writing or speech about transformation (dreams → reality, water → steam). Stronger and more elevated than the everyday 变成.

verb
to change intoto become (formal/literary)

Examples

  • 化为。
    Shuǐ jiā rè hòu huà wéi zhēng qì.
    After heating, water turns into steam.
  • 化为。
    Tā de mèng xiǎng huà wéi xiàn shí.
    His dream became reality.
  • ，化为。
    Jīng guò gǎi gé, zhè ge chéng shì huà wéi xiàn dài huà dū shì.
    After reforms, this city transformed into a modern metropolis.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

化huàtransform
为wèibecome

化 'transform' and 为 'become' combine to mean change into something.

Characters in this word

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

化 shows two person figures, one upright and one upside down, to give the idea of reversal or change.

Open 化 →

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.

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Appears in
Change & Process

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