以...为... (regard as)

• 拼音: yǐ...wéi...
• 结构: 以 + A + 为 + B
• 汉字拆解: 以 = derived from a pictograph of a person carrying something; 为 = simplified from 為, originally depicting a hand leading an elephant

含义

The structure 以...为... (yǐ...wéi...) means 'to take A as B,' 'to regard A as B,' or 'to use A as B.' It is a formal, classical-influenced pattern commonly found in written Chinese, news, and set phrases.

以...为... is one of the most recognizable literary patterns carried over from Classical Chinese into modern Mandarin. It appears frequently in news headlines, political language, academic writing, and fixed expressions. The pattern places 以 before the thing being considered and 为 before the role, standard, or identity assigned to it. Common collocations include 以...为中心 (take...as the center), 以...为主 (take...as the main focus), and 以...为荣 (take pride in). While it sounds formal, many of these collocations are widely understood and used even in everyday speech. Learners sometimes try to use this pattern with casual vocabulary, which creates a register mismatch — the pattern calls for vocabulary that matches its formal tone.

例句

1. 我们应该以事实为依据来做决定。
2. 这个团队以创新为核心理念。
3. 他一直以父亲为榜样。

用法指南

语境: written, formal, academic

语气: formal

正确说法

• 公司以客户满意为最高标准。
• 她以自己的努力为骄傲。
• 这座城市以旅游业为主要经济来源。

错误说法

• 我以米饭为午饭吃了。(以...为... expresses an abstract relationship of regarding or treating, not a concrete physical action like eating) → 我午饭吃了米饭。
• 他以为朋友很好。(以为 written as one unit means 'to mistakenly think' — to express 'regard as,' 以 and 为 must frame two separate elements: 以他为朋友) → 他以她为好朋友。

起源与历史

以...为... is a direct inheritance from Classical Chinese syntax, where 以 functioned as a coverb meaning 'using/taking' and 为 meant 'as/to be.' This elegant structure has persisted for over two thousand years and remains productive in modern formal Chinese.

文化背景

世代: All ages

社会背景: Universal