"For" in Chinese 2 - 為/为 wèi

Table of Contents

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

The word 為为 wèi can once again be translated as “for” in English. However, this time it is used to emphasize someone or something that typically benefits from an action. In many cases, it can be replaced with other Chinese words such as 給给 gěi, 替 tì, or 幫帮 bāng.

媽媽māma為wèi我wǒ做zuò早飯zǎofàn妈妈māma为wèi我wǒ做zuò早饭zǎofàn
My mom made breakfast for me.
(This sentence describes an action (made breakfast) for the benefit of the speaker (me).)

我wǒ為wèi公司gōngsī賺zhuàn了le很hěn多duō錢qián我wǒ为wèi公司gōngsī赚zhuàn了le很hěn多duō钱qián
I earned a lot of money for the company.
(The speaker (I) is the subject who performed the action of earning money, and the company is the beneficiary.)

咖啡kāfēi為wèi我的wǒde生活shēnghuó提供tígōng很hěn多duō好處hǎochù咖啡kāfēi为wèi我的wǒde生活shēnghuó提供tígōng很hěn多duō好处hǎochù
Coffee provides many benefits for my life.

謝謝xièxiè你nǐ為wèi我們wǒmen加油jiāyóu谢谢xièxiè你nǐ为wèi我们wǒmen加油jiāyóu
Thank you for cheering us on.

離開líkāi你nǐ為wèi我的wǒde人生rénshēng帶dài來lái幸福xìngfú离开líkāi你nǐ为wèi我的wǒde人生rénshēng带dài来lái幸福xìngfú
Leaving you brought happiness to my life.

政府zhèngfǔ應該yīnggāi為wèi人民rénmín爭取zhēngqǔ福利fúlì政府zhèngfǔ应该yīnggāi为wèi人民rénmín争取zhēngqǔ福利fúlì
The government should fight for the welfare of the people.

最近zuìjìn很hěn多duō人rén為wèi毛孩子máoháizi說話shuōhuà最近zuìjìn很hěn多duō人rén为wèi毛孩儿máoháir说话shuōhuà
Recently, many people are speaking up for furry children.

FYI
毛孩子儿 máo háizir is a delightful and affectionate expression used to refer to our beloved furry friends, specifically cats and dogs. The term literally translates to “furry children” or “hairy kids” in English. It’s very common to hear it in casual conversations and see it light up social media discussions among pet lovers in Chinese-speaking communities.

為/为 vs 為了/为了

為/为 wèi + Sth or Sb + V or SV

1. To express the reason or motivation behind an action.
2. To emphasize someone or something that typically benefits from an action.

讓ràng我們wǒmen一起yìqǐ為wèi留學liúxué生活shēnghuó做zuò準備zhǔnbèi让ràng我们wǒmen一起yìqǐ为wèi留学liúxué生活shēnghuó做zuò准备zhǔnbèi
Let’s prepare for the study abroad life together.

媽媽māma為wèi我wǒ做zuò了le很hěn多duō菜cài妈妈māma为wèi我wǒ做zuò了le很hěn多duō菜cài
My mother cooked a lot of dishes for me.

為了/为了＋ aim/goal

To express the purpose or intention behind an action. It indicates that an action is done with a specific goal in mind.

為了wèile媽媽māma的de健康jiànkāng我wǒ開始kāishǐ學xué做zuò菜cài为了wèile妈妈māma的de健康jiànkāng我wǒ开始kāishǐ学xué做zuò菜cài
For the health of my mother I began to learn to cook

為了wèile學xué中文zhōngwén，我wǒ決定juédìng去qù台灣Táiwān为了wèile学xué中文zhōngwén，我wǒ决定juédìng去qù台湾Táiwān
In order to learn Chinese, I decided to go to Taiwan.

Sometimes 為了/为了 is 為/为 + 了

Chinese learners often get confused with the usage of 為为 wèi and 為为了 wèile, particularly when 為为 wèi is followed by 了₁ le indicating completion of an action.

去年qùnián我的wǒde身體shēntǐ很hěn不好bùhǎo，所以suǒyǐ媽媽māma為wèi了le我wǒ，做zuò了le很hěn多duō菜cài去年qùnián我的wǒde身体shēntǐ很hěn不好bùhǎo，所以suǒyǐ妈妈māma为wèi了le我wǒ，做zuò了le很hěn多duō菜cài
Last year I was not healthy, so my mother cooked a lot of dishes for me.

你nǐ為wèi了le你的nǐde女朋友nǚpéngyǒu做zuò了le那麼nàme多duō事shì，她tā都dōu知道zhīdào嗎ma？你nǐ为wèi了le你的nǐde女朋友nǚpéngyou做zuò了le那么nàme多duō事shì，她tā都dōu知道zhīdào吗ma？
You’ve done so much for your girlfriend, but does she know about it?