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wéi
HSK 3.0 Level 2

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Definitions

  1. 1. as (in the capacity of)
  2. 2. to take sth as
  3. 3. to act as
  4. 4. to serve as
  5. 5. to behave as
  6. 6. to become
  7. 7. to be
  8. 8. to do
  9. 9. by (in the passive voice)

Example Sentences

1 shown
化锄 剑,化剑 锄。
Source: Tatoeba.org (ID 774733)

Sentence data courtesy of Tatoeba.org.

Words Containing 为

视为知己
shì wéi zhī jǐ

to consider sb as close friend (idiom); to take into one's confidence

为虎作伥
wèi hǔ zuò chāng

(idiom) to act as accomplice to the tiger; to help a villain do evil

较为
jiào wéi

comparatively

认为
rèn wéi

to believe; to think; to consider; to feel

无为
wú wéi

Wuwei county in Chaohu 巢湖[cháo hú], Anhui

视为畏途
shì wéi wèi tú

to view as dangerous (idiom); afraid to do sth

为己任
wéi jǐ rèn

to make it one's business

扭亏为盈
niǔ kuī wéi yíng

to get into the black; to become profitable

反客为主
fǎn kè wéi zhǔ

lit. the guest acts as host (idiom); fig. to turn from passive to active behavior

道不同不相为谋
dào bù tóng bù xiāng wéi móu

lit. persons who walk different paths cannot make plans together

更为
gèng wéi

even more

行为数据
xíng wéi shù jù

behavioral data (marketing)

引以为戒
yǐn yǐ wéi jiè

to take sth as a warning (idiom)

不足为外人道
bù zú wéi wài rén dào

no use to tell others

偶一为之
ǒu yī wéi zhī

to do sth once in a while (idiom)

自以为是
zì yǐ wéi shì

to believe oneself infallible (idiom)

以人为本
yǐ rén wéi běn

people-oriented

为主
wéi zhǔ

to rely mainly on

以此为
yǐ cǐ wéi

to regard as

为人民服务
wèi rén mín fú wù

Serve the People!, CCP political slogan

不足为训
bù zú wéi xùn

not to be taken as an example

歃血为盟
shà xuè wéi méng

to smear the lips with blood when taking an oath (idiom)

敢作敢为
gǎn zuò gǎn wéi

(idiom) to stop at nothing; to dare to do anything

为的是
wèi de shì

for the sake of

成则为王,败则为寇
chéng zé wéi wáng , bài zé wéi kòu

lit. called a king if successful, called a bandit if defeated (idiom)

占为己有
zhàn wéi jǐ yǒu

to appropriate to oneself (what rightfully belongs to others)

评为
píng wéi

to elect as

眼不见为净
yǎn bù jiàn wéi jìng

what remains unseen is deemed to be clean

为德不终
wéi dé bù zhōng

to start on virtue but give up (idiom); to fail to carry things through

四海为家
sì hǎi wéi jiā

to regard the four corners of the world all as home (idiom)

精诚所至,金石为开
jīng chéng suǒ zhì , jīn shí wèi kāi

lit. metal and stone yield to power of sincerity (idiom)

先下手为强
xiān xià shǒu wéi qiáng

strike first and gain the upper hand (idiom, martial arts term); Making the first move is an advantage.

不足为道
bù zú wéi dào

to be not worth mentioning

士为知己者死,女为悦己者容
shì wèi zhī jǐ zhě sǐ , nǚ wèi yuè jǐ zhě róng

a true gentleman will sacrifice his life for a friend who understands him, as a woman makes herself beautiful for her sweetheart

反社会行为
fǎn shè huì xíng wéi

antisocial behavior

不以为然
bù yǐ wéi rán

not to accept as correct (idiom); to object

化干戈为玉帛
huà gān gē wéi yù bó

lit. to exchange weapons of war for gifts of jade and silk (idiom)

量入为出
liàng rù wéi chū

to assess one's income and spend accordingly (idiom); to live within one's means

强迫性性行为
qiǎng pò xìng xìng xíng wéi

sexual obsession

为伍
wéi wǔ

to associate with

不足为虑
bù zú wéi lǜ

to give no cause for anxiety; nothing to worry about

视为
shì wéi

to view as

耳听为虚,眼见为实
ěr tīng wéi xū , yǎn jiàn wéi shí

(idiom) you cannot always trust what you hear, but seeing is believing

甚为
shèn wéi

very

破涕为笑
pò tì wéi xiào

to turn tears into laughter (idiom); to turn grief into happiness

百善孝为先
bǎi shàn xiào wéi xiān

of all virtues filial piety is most important (idiom)

先睹为快
xiān dǔ wéi kuài

joy of first experience (idiom)

叹为观止
tàn wéi guān zhǐ

(idiom) to gasp in amazement

眼见为实
yǎn jiàn wéi shí

seeing is believing

不为过
bù wéi guò

not an exaggeration

一言为定
yī yán wéi dìng

(idiom) it's a deal

大有可为
dà yǒu kě wéi

with great prospects for the future (idiom); well worth doing

相依为命
xiāng yī wéi mìng

mutually dependent for life (idiom); to rely upon one another for survival

神成为人
shén chéng wéi rén

God became man

夷为平地
yí wéi píng dì

to level

海盗行为
hǎi dào xíng wéi

piracy

为善最乐
wéi shàn zuì lè

doing good deeds brings the greatest joy (idiom)

为了
wèi le

for; for the purpose of; in order to

助人为乐
zhù rén wéi lè

pleasure from helping others (idiom)

康有为
kāng yǒu wéi

Kang Youwei (1858-1927), Confucian intellectual, educator and would-be reformer, main leader of the failed reform movement of 1898

为止
wéi zhǐ

until

记为
jì wéi

denoted by

朋比为奸
péng bǐ wéi jiān

to conspire

步步为营
bù bù wéi yíng

to advance gradually and entrench oneself at every step

事在人为
shì zài rén wéi

the matter depends on the individual (idiom); it is a matter for your own effort

难为
nán wei

to bother

一言为重
yī yán wéi zhòng

each word carries weight

勉力而为
miǎn lì ér wéi

to try one's best to do sth (idiom)

为难
wéi nán

to feel embarrassed or awkward

融合为一
róng hé wéi yī

to form a cohesive whole

所为
suǒ wéi

what one does

不以为意
bù yǐ wéi yì

not to mind

宁为鸡头,不为凤尾
nìng wéi jī tóu , bù wéi fèng wěi

see 寧做雞頭,不做鳳尾|宁做鸡头,不做凤尾[nìng zuò jī tóu , bù zuò fèng wěi]

成为
chéng wéi

to become; to turn into

若要人不知,除非己莫为
ruò yào rén bù zhī , chú fēi jǐ mò wéi

If you don't want anyone to know, don't do it (idiom). fig. If you do something bad, people will inevitably hear about it.

见义勇为
jiàn yì yǒng wéi

to see what is right and act courageously (idiom, from Analects); to stand up bravely for the truth

巧妇难为无米之炊
qiǎo fù nán wéi wú mǐ zhī chuī

The cleverest housewife cannot cook without rice (idiom); You won't get anywhere without equipment.

因为
yīn wèi

because

精诚所加,金石为开
jīng chéng suǒ jiā , jīn shí wèi kāi

see 精誠所至,金石為開|精诚所至,金石为开[jīng chéng suǒ zhì , jīn shí wèi kāi]

下不为例
xià bù wéi lì

not to be repeated

年轻有为
nián qīng yǒu wéi

young and promising

宁为玉碎,不为瓦全
nìng wéi yù suì , bù wéi wǎ quán

Better broken jade than intact tile.

以邻为壑
yǐ lín wéi hè

to use one's neighbor as a drain

为什么
wèi shén me

why?

画地为牢
huà dì wéi láo

lit. to be confined within a circle drawn on the ground (idiom)

略为
lüe4 wéi

slightly

曾经沧海难为水,除却巫山不是云
céng jīng cāng hǎi nán wéi shuǐ , chú què wū shān bù shì yún

there are no rivers to one who has crossed the ocean, and no clouds to one who has passed Mount Wu (idiom)

察察为明
chá chá wéi míng

keenly observant of trivial details

称为
chēng wéi

to be called; to be known as; to call it \...\

为五斗米折腰
wèi wǔ dǒu mǐ zhé yāo

(allusion to Tao Qian 陶潛|陶潜[táo qián], who used this phrase when he resigned from government service rather than show subservience to a visiting inspector) to bow and scrape for five pecks of rice (that being a part of his salary as a local magistrate)

人满为患
rén mǎn wéi huàn

packed with people

人为土
rén wéi tǔ

anthrosol (soil taxonomy)

转败为胜
zhuàn bài wéi shèng

to turn defeat into victory (idiom); snatching victory from the jaws of defeat

为生
wéi shēng

to make a living

列为
liè wéi

to be classified as

互为因果
hù wéi yīn guǒ

mutually related karma (idiom); fates are intertwined

利他行为
lì tā xíng wéi

altruistic behavior

不孝有三,无后为大
bù xiào yǒu sān , wú hòu wéi dà

There are three ways to be unfilial; having no sons is the worst. (citation from Mencius 孟子[mèng zǐ])

身为
shēn wéi

in the capacity of

走为上
zǒu wéi shàng

see 三十六計,走為上策|三十六计,走为上策[sān shí liù jì , zǒu wéi shàng cè]

合为
hé wéi

to combine

进退为难
jìn tuì wéi nán

no room to advance or to retreat (idiom); without any way out of a dilemma

不为左右袒
bù wèi zuǒ yòu tǎn

to remain neutral in a quarrel (idiom)

肆意妄为
sì yì wàng wéi

see 恣意妄為|恣意妄为[zì yì wàng wéi]

毛泽东·鲜为人知的故事
máo zé dōng · xiān wéi rén zhī de gù shi

Mao: The Unknown Story by Jung Chang 張戎|张戎 and Jon Halliday

有仇不报非君子,有冤不伸枉为人
yǒu chóu bù bào fēi jūn zǐ , yǒu yuān bù shēn wǎng wéi rén

one who doesn't avenge an injustice is not a gentleman, one who doesn't redress a wrong is not a man (idiom)

分为
fēn wéi

to divide sth into (parts)

指腹为婚
zhǐ fù wéi hūn

to propose the future marriage of two unborn babies on condition that one turns out to be a boy, and the other, a girl (idiom)

妄为
wàng wéi

to take rash action

蔚为大观
wèi wéi dà guān

to afford a magnificent sight (idiom)

何乐而不为
hé lè ér bù wéi

What can you have against it? (idiom)

以为
yǐ wéi

to think (i.e. to take it to be true that ...) (Usually there is an implication that the notion is mistaken – except when expressing one's own current opinion.)

不为人知
bù wéi rén zhī

not known to anyone

混为一谈
hùn wéi yī tán

to confuse one thing with another (idiom); to muddle

为数
wéi shù

in numerical terms (typically followed by 不少[bù shǎo] or 不多[bù duō] or a number)

极为庞大
jí wéi páng dà

monumental

为人
wéi rén

to conduct oneself

恣意妄为
zì yì wàng wéi

to behave unscrupulously

物以稀为贵
wù yǐ xī wéi guì

the rarer sth is, the greater its value (idiom)

做为
zuò wéi

to act as

以史为鉴
yǐ shǐ wéi jiàn

to learn from history (idiom)

蔚为
wèi wéi

see 蔚成[wèi chéng]

敢为人先
gǎn wéi rén xiān

to dare to be first

倒果为因
dào guǒ wéi yīn

to reverse cause and effect

无为县
wú wéi xiàn

Wuwei county in Chaohu 巢湖[cháo hú], Anhui

改为
gǎi wéi

to change into

尤为
yóu wéi

especially

民以食为天
mín yǐ shí wéi tiān

Food is the God of the people. (idiom); People view food as the primary need.

无能为力
wú néng wéi lì

impotent (idiom)

称之为
chēng zhī wéi

to call it...

为时过早
wéi shí guò zǎo

premature

最为
zuì wéi

the most

走为上计
zǒu wéi shàng jì

see 三十六計,走為上策|三十六计,走为上策[sān shí liù jì , zǒu wéi shàng cè]

变为
biàn wéi

to change into

难为情
nán wéi qíng

embarrassed

特为
tè wèi

for a specific purpose

亲力亲为
qīn lì qīn wéi

to do sth oneself

吃得苦中苦,方为人上人
chī dé kǔ zhōng kǔ , fāng wéi rén shàng rén

one cannot achieve glory and wealth without having been through trials and tribulations (proverb)

为重
wéi zhòng

to attach most importance to

犍为
qián wèi

Qianwei county in Leshan 樂山|乐山[lè shān], Sichuan

非国家行为体
fēi guó jiā xíng wéi tǐ

non-state actor

与全世界为敌
yǔ quán shì jiè wéi dí

to fight the whole world (idiom)

孑孑为义
jié jié wéi yì

petty favors

当官不为民做主不如回家卖红薯
dāng guān bù wèi mín zuò zhǔ bù rú huí jiā mài hóng shǔ

if an official does not put the people first, he might as well go home and sell sweet potatoes

善自为谋
shàn zì wéi móu

to be good at working for one's own profit (idiom)

为此
wèi cǐ

for this reason

为准
wéi zhǔn

to serve as the norm

人不为己,天诛地灭
rén bù wèi jǐ , tiān zhū dì miè

Look out for yourself, or heaven and earth will combine to destroy you.

为毛
wèi máo

(Internet slang) why?

胆大妄为
dǎn dà wàng wéi

daredevil

碌碌无为
lù lù wú wéi

unaccomplished

各自为政
gè zì wéi zhèng

to do things each in one's own way

慈悲为本
cí bēi wéi běn

mercy as the guiding principle (idiom); the Buddhist teaching that nothing is valid except compassion

指鹿为马
zhǐ lù wéi mǎ

making a deer out to be a horse (idiom); deliberate misrepresentation

化为乌有
huà wéi wū yǒu

to go up in smoke; to vanish

一吐为快
yī tǔ wéi kuài

to get sth off one's chest

名为
míng wéi

to be called

融为一体
róng wéi yī tǐ

to fuse together (idiom)

人为财死,鸟为食亡
rén wèi cái sǐ , niǎo wèi shí wáng

lit. human beings will die for riches, just as birds will for food (idiom)

宽大为怀
kuān dà wéi huái

magnanimous (idiom)

为仁不富
wéi rén bù fù

the rich man cannot be benevolent (idiom, from Mencius). It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 19:24).

行为准则
xíng wéi zhǔn zé

code of conduct

不为已甚
bù wéi yǐ shèn

refrain from going to extremes in meting out punishment

为时
wéi shí

timewise

不为所动
bù wéi suǒ dòng

to remain unmoved

觅食行为
mì shí xíng wéi

foraging

勉为其难
miǎn wéi qí nán

to tackle a difficult job (idiom)

华为
huá wéi

Huawei (brand)

沦为
lún wéi

to sink down to

舍己为人
shě jǐ wèi rén

to abandon self for others (idiom, from Analects); to sacrifice one's own interest for other people

行为主义
xíng wéi zhǔ yì

behaviorism

落草为寇
luò cǎo wéi kòu

to take to the woods to become an outlaw (idiom)

少说为佳
shǎo shuō wéi jiā

Few words are best.

三十六计,走为上计
sān shí liù jì , zǒu wéi shàng jì

see 三十六計,走為上策|三十六计,走为上策[sān shí liù jì , zǒu wéi shàng cè]

三十六计,走为上策
sān shí liù jì , zǒu wéi shàng cè

of the thirty-six stratagems, the best option is to flee (idiom)

鲜为人知
xiǎn wéi rén zhī

rarely known to anyone (idiom); almost unknown

颇为
pō wéi

rather

为非作歹
wéi fēi zuò dǎi

to break the law and commit crimes (idiom); malefactor

为着
wèi zhe

in order to

比为
bǐ wéi

to liken to

助纣为虐
zhù zhòu wéi nüe4

lit. helping tyrant Zhou 商紂王|商纣王[shāng zhòu wáng] in his oppression (idiom)

性行为
xìng xíng wéi

sexual behavior

不足为奇
bù zú wéi qí

not at all surprising (idiom)

养虎为患
yǎng hǔ wéi huàn

lit. to nurture a tiger invites calamity

极为
jí wéi

extremely

医之好治不病以为功
yī zhī hào zhì bù bìng yǐ wéi gōng

doctors like to treat those who are not sick so that they can get credit for the patient's \recovery\ (idiom)

到目前为止
dào mù qián wéi zhǐ

until now; so far

好自为之
hǎo zì wéi zhī

to do one's best

与人为善
yǔ rén wéi shàn

to be of service to others

另存为
lìng cún wéi

Save As ... (menu option in a software application)

翻手为云覆手变雨
fān shǒu wéi yún fù shǒu biàn yǔ

lit. turning his hand palm up he gathers the clouds, turning his hand palm down he turns them to rain

为时不晚
wéi shí bù wǎn

it is not too late (idiom)

大为
dà wéi

very

好为人师
hào wéi rén shī

to like to lecture others (idiom)

犍为县
qián wèi xiàn

Qianwei county in Leshan 樂山|乐山[lè shān], Sichuan

一分为二
yī fēn wéi èr

one divides into two

转危为安
zhuǎn wēi wéi ān

to turn peril into safety (idiom); to avert a danger (esp. political or medical)

化险为夷
huà xiǎn wéi yí

to turn peril into safety (idiom); to avert disaster

有为
yǒu wéi

promising

以和为贵
yǐ hé wéi guì

harmony is to be prized

不失为
bù shī wéi

can still be considered (to be...)

知其不可而为之
zhī qí bù kě ér wéi zhī

to keep going resolutely despite knowing the task is impossible (idiom)

迄今为止
qì jīn wéi zhǐ

so far

言为心声
yán wéi xīn shēng

one's words reflect one's thinking (idiom)

逼良为娼
bī liáng wéi chāng

to force an honest girl into prostitution (idiom)

无所不为
wú suǒ bù wéi

not stopping at anything

为上
wéi shàng

to be valued above all else

到此为止
dào cǐ wéi zhǐ

to stop at this point

有所作为
yǒu suǒ zuò wéi

(idiom) to achieve sth worthwhile; to make a positive contribution

行为
xíng wéi

action

为富不仁
wéi fù bù rén

the benevolent man cannot be rich (idiom, from Mencius). It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 19:24).

引以为傲
yǐn yǐ wéi ào

to be intensely proud of sth (idiom)

不为酒困
bù wéi jiǔ kùn

not a slave to the bottle

人为
rén wéi

artificial

大有作为
dà yǒu zuò wéi

to accomplish much

成者为王,败者为寇
chéng zhě wéi wáng , bài zhě wéi kòu

see 成則為王,敗則為寇|成则为王,败则为寇[chéng zé wéi wáng , bài zé wéi kòu]

化敌为友
huà dí wéi yǒu

to convert an enemy into a friend (idiom)

舍己为公
shě jǐ wèi gōng

to give up one's private interests for the public good (idiom); to behave altruistically

一之为甚
yī zhī wéi shèn

once is more than enough (idiom)

引以为憾
yǐn yǐ wéi hàn

to consider sth regrettable (idiom)

助人为快乐之本
zhù rén wéi kuài lè zhī běn

pleasure from helping others

不足为怪
bù zú wéi guài

not at all surprising (idiom)

为首
wéi shǒu

head

转悲为喜
zhuǎn bēi wéi xǐ

to turn grief into happiness (idiom)

即为
jí wéi

to be considered to be

识时务者为俊杰
shí shí wù zhě wéi jùn jié

(idiom) only an outstanding talent can recognize current trends; a wise man submits to circumstances

反败为胜
fǎn bài wéi shèng

to turn defeat into victory (idiom); to turn the tide

化为泡影
huà wéi pào yǐng

to come to nothing (idiom)

削职为民
xuē zhí wéi mín

demotion to commoner (idiom)

婚前性行为
hūn qián xìng xíng wéi

premarital sex

不作为
bù zuò wéi

nonfeasance

左右为难
zuǒ yòu wéi nán

(idiom) between a rock and a hard place

无所作为
wú suǒ zuò wéi

attempting nothing and accomplishing nothing (idiom); without any initiative or drive

为所欲为
wéi suǒ yù wéi

to do whatever one pleases

独在异乡为异客
dú zài yì xiāng wéi yì kè

a stranger in a strange land (from a poem by Wang Wei 王維|王维[wáng wéi])

无以为报
wú yǐ wéi bào

unable to return the favor

作为
zuò wéi

one's conduct

化腐朽为神奇
huà fǔ xiǔ wéi shén qí

lit. to change something rotten into something magical (idiom)

所作所为
suǒ zuò suǒ wéi

one's conduct and deeds

有为有守
yǒu wéi yǒu shǒu

able to act while maintaining one's integrity (idiom)

信以为真
xìn yǐ wéi zhēn

to take sth to be true

先入为主
xiān rù wéi zhǔ

the first impression is the strongest

人为刀俎,我为鱼肉
rén wéi dāo zǔ , wǒ wéi yú ròu

lit. to be the meat on sb's chopping block (idiom)

眼见为实,耳听为虚
yǎn jiàn wéi shí , ěr tīng wéi xū

to believe what one sees, not what one hears (idiom). Don't believe what people tell you until you see if for yourself.

狼狈为奸
láng bèi wéi jiān

villains collude together (idiom); to work hand in glove with sb (to nefarious ends)

为富不仁,为仁不富
wéi fù bù rén , wéi rén bù fù

the benevolent man cannot be rich and vice versa (idiom, from Mencius). It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 19:24).

户限为穿
hù xiàn wéi chuān

to have an endless stream of visitors (idiom)

一日为师,终身为父
yī rì wéi shī , zhōng shēn wéi fù

lit. teacher for one day, father for ever (idiom)

引以为荣
yǐn yǐ wéi róng

to regard it as an honor (idiom)

尽力而为
jìn lì ér wéi

to try one's utmost

为时已晚
wéi shí yǐ wǎn

already too late

拜人为师
bài rén wéi shī

to acknowledge as one's teacher

据为己有
jù wéi jǐ yǒu

to take for one's own

商业行为
shāng yè xíng wéi

business activity

刻意为之
kè yì wéi zhī

to make a conscious effort

为人
wèi rén

for sb

为何
wèi hé

why

为德不卒
wéi dé bù zú

to start on virtue but give up (idiom); to fail to carry things through

不得已而为之
bù dé yǐ ér wéi zhī

to have no other choice

奉为圭臬
fèng wéi guī niè

to take as a guiding principle (idiom)

为人师表
wéi rén shī biǎo

to serve as a model for others (idiom)

量力而为
liàng lì ér wéi

to weigh one's abilities and act accordingly

合众为一
hé zhòng wéi yī

united as one

合而为一
hé ér wéi yī

to merge together (idiom); to unify disparate elements into one whole

何为
hé wéi

what is

勤俭为服务之本
qín jiǎn wéi fú wù zhī běn

hardwork and thriftiness are the foundations of service (idiom)

敢为
gǎn wéi

to dare to do

无以为生
wú yǐ wéi shēng

no way to get by

统称为
tǒng chēng wéi

collectively known as

广为
guǎng wéi

widely

犯罪行为
fàn zuì xíng wéi

criminal activity

为期
wéi qī

(to be done) by (a certain date)

犹未为晚
yóu wèi wéi wǎn

it is not too late (idiom)

为时未晚
wéi shí wèi wǎn

it is not too late (idiom)

胡作非为
hú zuò fēi wéi

to run amok (idiom); to commit outrages

化整为零
huà zhěng wéi líng

to break up the whole into pieces (idiom); dealing with things one by one

入土为安
rù tǔ wéi ān

buried and at rest (idiom); Resquiescat in pacem (RIP)

侵权行为
qīn quán xíng wéi

tort; infringement (of sb's rights)

以慎为键
yǐ shèn wéi jiàn

to take caution as the key (idiom); to proceed very carefully

发奋有为
fā fèn yǒu wéi

to prove one's worth through firm resolve (idiom)

画地为狱
huà dì wéi yù

see 畫地為牢|画地为牢[huà dì wéi láo]

习以为常
xí yǐ wéi cháng

accustomed to