为wéi

为

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Simplified · Today

繁体

Traditional Chinese

The traditional form 為 (wéi, "to do, to act") once depicted a hand guiding an elephant — a vivid scene of labor that captured the original meaning of working or doing. Over centuries, the right side simplified beyond recognition, yet the character retained its broad sense of action and becoming. In compounds like 偽 (false), 媯 (surname), and 潙 (river name), the old elephant shape persists as a clue to its ancient power.

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Shuowen

To act. The oracle bone form of 为 depicts a hand (又) pulling an elephant (象), a pictograph of a hand guiding a powerful animal, symbolizing the act of doing or making something. The original meaning is "to act, to do, to make", and the shape is used because it visually represents the effort of controlling and working with an animal. The character's form persisted through the bronze and script forms, later extending to abstract meanings such as "for" or "because", while the hand‑animal motif remains the etymological root.

Pinyin

wéi· HSK 1

为wéi

Character evolution

Shuowen

Pinyin