Difference between revisions of "Expressing "for" with "wei""
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When you work ''for'' a company or do other sorts of physical (and even mental) activities for another party, you're likely to use the Chinese preposition 为 (wèi). This character is often translated into English as "for," which is often unnatural or unnecessary, depending on the particular phrase.  For example, the super common Mao-era phrase, 为人民服务 ("serve the people"), doesn't need the word "for" in English.
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When you work ''for'' a company or do other sorts of physical (and even mental) activities for another party, you're likely to use the Chinese preposition 为 (wèi). This character is often translated into English as "for," but is sometimes unnatural or unnecessary, depending on the particular phrase.  For example, the super common Mao-era phrase, 为人民服务 (wèi rénmín fúwù), "serve the people," doesn't need the word "for" in English.
  
 
Don't confuse this preposition with [[Expressing purpose with "weile"|为了]], which is a bit different.
 
Don't confuse this preposition with [[Expressing purpose with "weile"|为了]], which is a bit different.
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*我们 都 <em>为</em> 你 <strong>高兴</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen dōu <em>wèi</em> nǐ <strong>gāoxìng</strong>.</span><span class="trans">We are all happy for you.</span>
 
*我们 都 <em>为</em> 你 <strong>高兴</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen dōu <em>wèi</em> nǐ <strong>gāoxìng</strong>.</span><span class="trans">We are all happy for you.</span>
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*谁 <em>为</em> 我 <strong>考虑</strong> 过 ？<span class="pinyin">Shéi <em>wèi</em> wǒ <strong>kǎolǜ</strong> guo?</span><span class="trans">Is there anyone who's ever thought about me?</span>
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*谁 <em>为</em> 我 <strong>考虑</strong> 过 ？<span class="pinyin">Shéi <em>wèi</em> wǒ <strong>kǎolǜ</strong> guo?</span><span class="trans">Who has ever considered me?</span>
 
*你们 可以 来 <em>为</em> 我们 <strong>加油</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen kěyǐ lái <em>wèi</em> wǒmen <strong>jiāyóu</strong>.</span><span class="trans">You guys can come to cheer us on.</span>
 
*你们 可以 来 <em>为</em> 我们 <strong>加油</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen kěyǐ lái <em>wèi</em> wǒmen <strong>jiāyóu</strong>.</span><span class="trans">You guys can come to cheer us on.</span>
 
*她 是 <em>为</em> 美国 政府 <strong>工作</strong> 的 。<span class="pinyin">Tā shì <em>wèi</em> Měiguó zhèngfǔ <strong>gōngzuò</strong> de.</span><span class="trans">She works for the United States government.</span>
 
*她 是 <em>为</em> 美国 政府 <strong>工作</strong> 的 。<span class="pinyin">Tā shì <em>wèi</em> Měiguó zhèngfǔ <strong>gōngzuò</strong> de.</span><span class="trans">She works for the United States government.</span>
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*这个 生日 蛋糕 是 <em>为</em> 你 <strong>准备</strong> 的 。<span class="pinyin">Zhège shēngrì dàngāo shì <em>wèi</em> nǐ <strong>zhǔnbèi</strong> de.</span><span class="trans">This birthday cake is prepared for you.</span>
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*这个 生日 蛋糕 是 <em>为</em> 你 <strong>准备</strong> 的 。<span class="pinyin">Zhège shēngrì dàngāo shì <em>wèi</em> nǐ <strong>zhǔnbèi</strong> de.</span><span class="trans">This birthday cake has been prepared for you.</span>
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*父母 <em>为</em> 家庭 <strong>付出</strong> 了 很 多 。<span class="pinyin">Fùmǔ <em>wèi</em> jiātíng <strong>fùchū</strong> le hěn duō.</span><span class="trans">Parents need to do a lot for their family.</span>
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*父母 <em>为</em> 家庭 <strong>付出</strong> 了 很 多 。<span class="pinyin">Fùmǔ <em>wèi</em> jiātíng <strong>fùchū</strong> le hěn duō.</span><span class="trans">The parents have done so much for their family.</span>
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*你 不 <em>为</em> 自己 的 孩子 <strong>担心</strong> 吗 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ bù <em>wèi</em> zìjǐ de háizi <strong>dānxīn</strong> ma?</span><span class="trans">Aren't you worried about your child?</span>
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*你 不 <em>为</em> 自己 的 孩子 <strong>担心</strong> 吗 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ bù <em>wèi</em> zìjǐ de háizi <strong>dānxīn</strong> ma?</span><span class="trans">Aren't you worried for your child?</span>
 
*谢谢 你 <em>为</em> 我们 <strong>提供</strong> 这么 多 资源 。<span class="pinyin">Xièxie nǐ <em>wèi</em> wǒmen <strong>tígōng</strong> zhème duō zīyuán.</span><span class="trans">Thank you for providing us with so many resources.</span>
 
*谢谢 你 <em>为</em> 我们 <strong>提供</strong> 这么 多 资源 。<span class="pinyin">Xièxie nǐ <em>wèi</em> wǒmen <strong>tígōng</strong> zhème duō zīyuán.</span><span class="trans">Thank you for providing us with so many resources.</span>
 
*他 <em>为</em> 公司 的 发展 <strong>贡献</strong> 了 很多 。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>wèi</em> gōngsī de fāzhǎn <strong>gòngxiàn</strong> le hěn duō.</span><span class="trans">He contributed a lot to the development of the company.</span>
 
*他 <em>为</em> 公司 的 发展 <strong>贡献</strong> 了 很多 。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>wèi</em> gōngsī de fāzhǎn <strong>gòngxiàn</strong> le hěn duō.</span><span class="trans">He contributed a lot to the development of the company.</span>

Revision as of 09:21, 27 November 2018

When you work for a company or do other sorts of physical (and even mental) activities for another party, you're likely to use the Chinese preposition 为 (wèi). This character is often translated into English as "for," but is sometimes unnatural or unnecessary, depending on the particular phrase. For example, the super common Mao-era phrase, 为人民服务 (wèi rénmín fúwù), "serve the people," doesn't need the word "for" in English.

Don't confuse this preposition with 为了, which is a bit different.

Structure

为 + Party + Verb / Adj.

Examples

  • 我们 都 为 你 高兴 。Wǒmen dōu wèi nǐ gāoxìng.We are all happy for you.
  • 谁 为 我 考虑 过 ？Shéi wèi wǒ kǎolǜ guo?Who has ever considered me?
  • 你们 可以 来 为 我们 加油 。Nǐmen kěyǐ lái wèi wǒmen jiāyóu.You guys can come to cheer us on.
  • 她 是 为 美国 政府 工作 的 。Tā shì wèi Měiguó zhèngfǔ gōngzuò de.She works for the United States government.
  • 这个 生日 蛋糕 是 为 你 准备 的 。Zhège shēngrì dàngāo shì wèi nǐ zhǔnbèi de.This birthday cake has been prepared for you.
  • 父母 为 家庭 付出 了 很 多 。Fùmǔ wèi jiātíng fùchū le hěn duō.The parents have done so much for their family.
  • 你 不 为 自己 的 孩子 担心 吗 ？Nǐ bù wèi zìjǐ de háizi dānxīn ma?Aren't you worried for your child?
  • 谢谢 你 为 我们 提供 这么 多 资源 。Xièxie nǐ wèi wǒmen tígōng zhème duō zīyuán.Thank you for providing us with so many resources.
  • 他 为 公司 的 发展 贡献 了 很多 。Tā wèi gōngsī de fāzhǎn gòngxiàn le hěn duō.He contributed a lot to the development of the company.
  • 很多 人 都 在 为 那些 孩子 祈祷 。Hěn duō rén dōu zài wèi nàxiē háizi qídǎo.Lots of people are praying for those children.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Websites

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