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“For” in Chinese 1 – 為/为 wèi

Posted on May 24, 2023September 2, 2026 by tiffany

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Grammar · HSK 3
Grammar Point · HSK 3

為为 wèi 1 — “For, Because Of”

為为 wèi has many functions in Mandarin Chinese. In this article, we’ll focus on how 為为 wèi expresses the reason or motivation behind an action — the “because of” sense of “for.”

For in Chinese 為/为 wèi

Whenever the reason behind an action — or your emotional reaction to something — needs a “for,” 為为 wèi is the word to reach for.

1 Structure

為为 wèi + 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.
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.
Cultural Note: Showing Sympathy in Chinese

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 nǐ háihǎo ma你还好吗 nǐ háihǎo ma?) to show concern.

為为 wèi + Sth or Sb + SV

This pattern is common with emotion adjectives — the feeling that a person or event triggers in you.

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nǐ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nǐ不平bùpíng!
He’s such a scumbag, I feel indignant for you just by hearing about it!
Slang Note: 渣男 zhānán — “Scumbag”

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.

2 Practice

Tap the card to see the answer.

01There 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
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02Let’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
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03I started exercising for my health.
我wǒ為wèi我的wǒde健康jiànkāng開始kāishǐ運動yùndòng。我wǒ为wèi我的wǒde健康jiànkāng开始kāishǐ运动yùndòng。
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04My parents worry about my safety.
我的wǒde父母fùmǔ為wèi我的wǒde安全ānquán擔心dānxīn。我的wǒde父母fùmǔ为wèi我的wǒde安全ānquán担心dānxīn。
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05The whole class is happy for his good news.
全班quánbān同學tóngxué都dōu為wèi他的tāde好hǎo消息xiāoxi感到gǎndào高興gāoxīng。全班quánbān同学tóngxué都dōu为wèi他的tāde好hǎo消息xiāoxi感到gǎndào高兴gāoxīng。
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06I feel sad for the stray cat.
我wǒ為wèi那nà隻zhī流浪貓liúlàngmāo感到gǎndào難過nánguò。我wǒ为wèi那nà只zhī流浪猫liúlàngmāo感到gǎndào难过nánguò。
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07She apologized to me for being late.
她tā為wèi遲到chídào向xiàng我wǒ道歉dàoqiàn。她tā为wèi迟到chídào向xiàng我wǒ道歉dàoqiàn。
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08Everyone is anxious about tomorrow’s exam.
大家dàjiā都dōu為wèi明天míngtiān的de考試kǎoshì著急zháojí。大家dàjiā都dōu为wèi明天míngtiān的de考试kǎoshì着急zháojí。
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09He was moved by his friend’s help.
他tā為wèi朋友péngyǒu的de幫助bāngzhù感到gǎndào感動gǎndòng。他tā为wèi朋友péngyou的de帮助bāngzhù感到gǎndào感动gǎndòng。
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10We should feel proud of our hard work.
我們wǒmen應該yīnggāi為wèi自己的zìjǐde努力nǔlì感到gǎndào驕傲jiāoào。我们wǒmen应该yīnggāi为wèi自己的zìjǐde努力nǔlì感到gǎndào骄傲jiāoào。
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Related Grammar

→為为 wèi 2(HSK 3) →為了为了 wèile 1(HSK 3) →“In order to” 2 — 為的是为的是 wèideshì and 為为 wèi… 而 ér(HSK 5)

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