“For” in Chinese 1 – 為/为 wèi

Grammar Point:
為为 wèi has many functions in Mandarin Chinese. In this article, we are going to discuss how to use 為为 wèi to express the meaning of “for”.

Structure

為/为 + Sth or Sb + Verb

It is used to express the reason or motivation behind an action.

為wèi大家dàjiā的de健康jiànkāng乾杯gānbēi为wèi大家dàjiā的de健康jiànkāng干杯gānbēi
Cheers to everyone’s health.

為wèi孩子háizi戒jiè菸yān为wèi孩子háizi戒jiè烟yān
Quit smoking for the sake of children.

她tā每天měitiān都dōu為wèi買mǎi房fáng存錢cúnqián她tā每天měitiān都dōu为wèi买mǎi房fáng攒钱zǎnqián
She saves money every day to buy a house.

我wǒ會huì為wèi你nǐ禱告dǎogào我wǒ会huì为wèi你nǐ祷告dǎogào
I will pray for you.

你nǐ應該yīnggāi為wèi你nǐ說shuō過guò的de話huà道歉dàoqiàn你nǐ应该yīnggāi为wèi你nǐ说shuō过guò的de话huà道歉dàoqiàn
You should apologize for what you said.

FYI
In English, it is common to say “I am sorry for you,” but in Chinese, we don’t express it in the same way. The literal translation would be 我為为你抱歉 wǒ wèi nǐ bàoqiàn, but this doesn’t align with our cultural norms. In Chinese culture, we would simply ask “Are you okay?” (你還好嗎还好吗 nǐ háihǎo ma?) to show concern.

為/为 + Sth or Sb + SV

為wèi你的nǐde好hǎo成績chéngjī高興gāoxīng为wèi你的nǐde好hǎo成绩chéngjì高兴gāoxīng
I’m happy for your good grades.

恭喜gōngxǐ你nǐ要yào結婚jiéhūn了le， 我wǒ為wèi你nǐ感到gǎndào開心kāixīn恭喜gōngxǐ你nǐ要yào结婚jiéhūn了le， 我wǒ为wèi你nǐ感到gǎndào开心kāixīn
Congratulations! Happy Wedding! I’m happy for you.

最近zuìjìn的de新聞xīnwén讓ràng我wǒ為wèi台灣Táiwān的de未來wèilái擔心dānxīn最近zuìjìn的de新闻xīnwén让ràng我wǒ为wèi台湾Táiwān的de未来wèilái担心dànxīn
The recent news makes me worry about Taiwan’s future.

你nǐ做zuò得de太tài好hǎo了le， 我wǒ真zhēn為wèi你nǐ驕傲jiāoào你nǐ做zuò得de太tài好hǎo了le， 我wǒ真zhēn为wèi你nǐ骄傲jiāoào
You’re doing great, and I’m really proud of you.

他tā真zhēn是shì個ge渣男zhānán， 我wǒ聽tīng了le都dōu為wèi妳nǎi不平bùpíng！ 他tā真zhēn是shì个ge渣男zhānán， 我wǒ听tīng了le都dōu为wèi妳nǎi不平bùpíng！
He’s such a scumbag, I feel indignant for you just by hearing about it!

FYI
渣男 zhānán is a Chinese slang term used to describe a man who may not be reliable, honest, or have the best moral compass. The word 渣 zhā translates to “dregs” or “residue,” implying that these people might not have the highest quality or moral standards. Just a heads up, 渣男 zhānán is a casual and informal term commonly used in everyday conversations and social media rather than in formal settings.

Practice

TouchHover over the space to see the answers.

✔️ There are only three minutes left in the game, and I feel nervous for them.

比賽bǐsài只zhǐ剩shèng最後zuìhòu3 分鐘fēnzhōng了le， 真zhēn為wèi他們tāmen緊張jǐnzhāng比赛bǐsài只zhǐ剩shèng最后zuìhòu3 分钟fēnzhōng了le， 真zhēn为wèi他们tāmen紧张jǐnzhāng

✔️ Let’s work together for the future.

讓ràng我們wǒmen一起yìqǐ為wèi未來wèilái努力nǔlì让ràng我们wǒmen一起yìqǐ为wèi未来wèilái努力nǔlì

✔️ Time will not stop for you.

時間shíjiān不會búhuì為wèi你nǐ停留tíngliú时间shíjiān不会búhuì为wèi你nǐ停留tíngliú

• 為为 wèi 2 (HSK 3)

• In order to 為为了 wèile (HSK 3)