Kilo Lingo

(chéng wéi) - to become, to turn into in Mandarin

chéngwéi

Traditional: 成為

Line drawing of 成为
Coloured illustration of 成为
HSK 4
#331 of 5,000 Core 1000

Translation

to become, to turn into

Word origin

The word 成为 combines 成 'to complete, to become' and 为 'to do, to act as'. 成 derives from a sense of completing or accomplishing, while 为 originally depicted a hand leading an elephant to work, hence 'to do, to make'. Together they mean to turn into or become.

Origin
compound
Root
成 (chéng, to complete) + 为 (wéi, to do, to act as)

Stroke order

Stroke order for 成

Stroke order for 为

Examples

He became a doctor.

Dreams become reality.

She wants to become a teacher.

She became a doctor.

He wants to become a writer.

成为 (chéng wéi) - to become, to turn into.

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This word is part of lesson 7.