身为 (shēn wéi) — as; in the capacity of

Definition

Formal written phrase meaning 'as; in the capacity of', used to introduce one's role before stating a duty or expectation. Common in essays, speeches, and official writing rather than everyday speech.

verb
asin the capacity of

Examples

  • 身为，。
    shēn wéi Lǎo shī, yào duì xué shēng fù zé.
    As a teacher, one must be responsible to students.
  • 身为，。
    shēn wéi Fù mǔ, yīng gāi gěi hái zi zuò hǎo bǎng yàng.
    As parents, one should set a good example for children.
  • 身为，。
    shēn wéi Lǐng dǎo, yào yǐ shēn zuò zé.
    As a leader, one must lead by example.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
主谓zhǔwèiSubject + predicate

A small sentence frozen into a word: something, and what it does or is.

身shēnself/body
为wèibe

身 means self or body, and 为 means be; together they express being in a role.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 身 comes from a drawing of a pregnant woman.

Open 身 →

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.

Open 为 →

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