Zi:为
为(F為) [wèi] (为了) for, for the sake of, in order to; 因为 because of; 为什么 why? [wéi] do/make; serve as; be, 成为 become [é] [wěi] cf. 為/爲
2 monosyllabic entries in The ABC Chinese-English Comprehensive Dictionary (namespace Ci):
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The simple-form character 为 (4 strokes) is an abbrev. of the full-form character 為 (9 strokes), keeping 2 of the full-form dots (丶), and replacing the other strokes with a shape like 力 (2 strokes).
Note: The stroke order of 力 (p,hzg) in the simple form 为 is not the same as that of the independent character 力 lì ‘strength’ (hzg,p); in the simple form 为 (d,p,hzg,d) the first and last dots of the full-form 為 are retained, and the 2nd and 4th strokes (P,HZG) of the full form 為 (d,P,hg,hg,HZG,d,d,d,d) become 力 (p,hzg).
The full-form character 為 (9 strokes) is an intermediary abbrev. of the older form 爲 (12 strokes), replacing the old upper component 爫/爪 (4 strokes) with a single dot (丶); formerly also wr. 𫞟 (with 2 dots), or with a top like 少 or 月/ (YTZ); the form 爲 is more traditional, since it corresponds more closely to the Seal (stroke for stroke); cf. 爲.
The Shuōwén Seal form of 为/為(爲𫞟) wéi/wèi ‘mother monkey’ (or 母/猕猴 ‘rhesus macaque’) is said to depict the animal (but see below), with the upper component 爫(爪) zhǎo ‘hand/claw’ indicating that such monkeys are good at scratching; formerly wr. 𢏽(𦥮), suggesting claws (爪), or by another interpretation, two monkeys face-to-face (grooming each other).
Compare: 爫(爪), 𦥑, 廾(𠬞), 𢏽(𦥮), 𢏒(𠂹𡍮垂), 𢦠(我), 勿, 𥝢(利), 𢐴.
Older graphs associated with 為/爲 are said to have 象(𧰼) xiàng ‘elephant’ below (), with 爫/爪 above for the hand of the rider/driver/mahout (象奴); perhaps 母猴 mǔhóu in the SW gloss is not ‘monkey’ at all, but an old forgotten wr. of “mahout” (which comes into English from Hindi mahavat/mahaut, Skt. mahamatra; Burmese oozie); cf. 马猴 mǎhóu, (HDC:) 猕猴.
Compare: 象(𧰼) xiàng ‘elephant’.
Compare: 为/為 wèi : 为了 wèile, 为着 wèizhe ‘for; in order to’, 为什么 wèishenme ‘why?’, 因为 yīnwèi ‘because’.
Compare: 为/為 wéi : 成为 chéngwéi ‘become’, 认为 rènwéi ‘think/believe that’, 作为 zuòwéi ‘conduct; deed; accomplish’.
Compare: 办/辦 bàn ‘handle/do’.
►references: Wieger:49h; Karlgren:AD1313,GS27; Hànyǔ Dà Zìdiǎn:1.44.2; Bǐshùn Guīfàn:010.0.09; Wáng(1993):84; EDOC:0
►components: 丶力丶冫丷八
►Cantonese: waih\ waih-
<cdl char='为' uni='4E3A' points='0,0 124,128' radical='D1'>
<stroke type='d' points='11,0 31,28' />
<comp char='力' uni='529B' variant='1' points='0,0 128,128' />
<stroke type='d' points='76,58 93,91' />
</cdl>
<cdl char='力' uni='529B' variant='1' points='0,0 124,128'>
<stroke type='wp' points='62,0 0,128' tail='long' />
<stroke type='hzg' points='0,46 128,46 110,128 94,110' />
<!-- variant based on [U+ED2C](V=0) -->
</cdl>
►stroke 为 (... strokes)
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Unicode: U+4E3A
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