wai4 zo2為咗为咗
Jyutpingwai4 zo2
Yalewàih jó
Definition
For; for the sake of; in order to; indicating the reason or purpose of an action.
colloquialdaily actionsother
How it's used
Functions as a preposition to introduce the purpose or cause of an action. It is highly versatile and can be used to express both future goals and past reasons. While it is standard in spoken Cantonese, it is often replaced by 為了 in formal written Chinese.
Examples
To save money, he brings his own lunch to work every day.
Related words
Common phrases
for your own good
for the sake of making a living
Common mistake
Avoid using it as a direct translation for the English preposition 'for' when it indicates a beneficiary, such as 'I bought this for you'. In that context, use 幫 or 為 instead.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
