行为

• Pinyin: xíng wéi
• Hanzi breakdown: 行 = pictograph of a crossroads, meaning 'to act/do'; 为 = originally a pictograph of a hand leading an elephant, meaning 'to do/deed'

Meaning

Behaviour or conduct. Refers to the way a person acts or behaves.

行为 is a slightly formal word often used when discussing or evaluating someone's actions. It can be modified by adjectives like 好 (good) or 不好 (bad). Related words include 举动 (act/move) and 表现 (performance/behaviour).

Examples

1. 他的行为让大家很生气。 His behaviour made everyone very angry.
2. 这种行为是不对的。 This kind of behaviour is wrong.
3. 老师说我们要注意自己的行为。 The teacher said we should pay attention to our own behaviour.

Usage Guide

Context: education, social norms

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 你的行为很好，老师表扬了你。(Your behaviour is very good, the teacher praised you.)
• 我们要对自己的行为负责。(We should be responsible for our own behaviour.)

Don't Say

• 他行为了一件坏事 (行为 is a noun, not a verb — say 他做了一件坏事 to mean 'he did a bad thing')

Origin & History

行 means 'to act' or 'to do,' and 为 means 'to do' or 'deed.' Together they describe the manner of one's actions — behaviour.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal