Usage of the character 為

to think (i.e. to take it to be true that ...) (Usually there is an implication that the notion is mistaken – except when expressing one's own current opinion.)

wéilì

为例

[為例]

used in the construction 以...為例／以...为例, "to take ... as an example"

héwéi

何为

[何為]

what is
(old) what for
(in a rhetorical question) it's no use

suǒwéi

所为

[所為]

what one does
doings

yóuwéi

尤为

[尤為]

especially

rènwéi

认为

[認為]

to believe; to think; to consider; to feel

wèirén

为人

[為人]

for sb
for others' interest

wèile

为了

[為了]

for; for the purpose of; in order to

shènwéi

甚为

[甚為]

very
extremely

pōwéi

颇为

[頗為]

rather
quite

shēnwéi

身为

[身為]

in the capacity of
as

jíwéi

即为

[即為]

to be considered to be
to be defined to be
to be called

lúnwéi

沦为

[淪為]

to sink down to
to be reduced to (sth inferior)

Kāng Yǒuwéi

康有为

[康有為]

Kang Youwei (1858-1927), Confucian intellectual, educator and would-be reformer, main leader of the failed reform movement of 1898

chēngzhīwéi

称之为

[稱之為]

to call it...
known as...

bùwéiguò

不为过

[不為過]

not an exaggeration
not excessive
not wide of the mark

zǒuwéishàng

走为上

[走為上]

see 三十六計，走為上策／三十六计，走为上策 (sānshíliùjì,zǒuwéishàngcè)

nánwéiqíng

难为情

[難為情]

embarrassed

rénwéitǔ

人为土

[人為土]

anthrosol (soil taxonomy)

xìngxíngwéi

性行为

[性行為]

sexual behavior

Wúwéixiàn

无为县

[無為縣]

Wuwei county in Chaohu 巢湖 ( Cháohú), Anhui

wèishénme

为什么

[為什麼]

why?
for what reason?

bùzuòwéi

不作为

[不作為]

nonfeasance
omission (law)

Qiánwèixiàn

犍为县

[犍為縣]

Qianwei county in Leshan 樂山／乐山 ( Lèshān), Sichuan

bùshīwéi

不失为

[不失為]

can still be considered (to be...)
may after all be accepted as

yǐcǐwéi

以此为

[以此為]

to regard as
to treat as

wéijǐrèn

为己任

[為己任]

to make it one's business
to take upon oneself to

tǒngchēngwéi

统称为

[統稱為]

collectively known as
to call sth as a group

lìngcúnwéi

另存为

[另存為]

Save As ... (menu option in a software application)

wèideshì

为的是

[為的是]

for the sake of
for the purpose of

Wúwéi Shì

无为市

[無為市]

Wuwei, a county-level city in Wuhu 蕪湖／芜湖 ( Wuhú), Anhui

liànglì'érwéi

量力而为

[量力而為]

to weigh one's abilities and act accordingly
to act according to one's means
to cut one's coat according to one's cloth

bùzúwéiqí

不足为奇

[不足為奇]

not at all surprising (idiom)

bùwéirénzhī

不为人知

[不為人知]

not known to anyone
secret
unknown

yóuwèiwéiwǎn

犹未为晚

[猶未為晚]

it is not too late (idiom)

yītǔwéikuài

一吐为快

[一吐為快]

to get sth off one's chest

yǐrénwéiběn

以人为本

[以人為本]

people-oriented

huàxiǎnwéiyí

化险为夷

[化險為夷]

to turn peril into safety (idiom); to avert disaster

gèzìwéizhèng

各自为政

[各自為政]

to do things each in one's own way

gǎnzuògǎnwéi

敢作敢为

[敢作敢為]

(idiom) to stop at nothing; to dare to do anything

jìntuìwéinán

进退为难

[進退為難]

no room to advance or to retreat (idiom); without any way out of a dilemma
trapped
in an impossible situation

wéifù-bùrén

为富不仁

[為富不仁]

to be wealthy and heartless

bùyǐwéirán

不以为然

[不以為然]

not to accept as correct (idiom); to object
to disapprove
to take exception to

yīyánwéidìng

一言为定

[一言為定]

(idiom) it's a deal
that's settled then

wéidébùzú

为德不卒

[為德不卒]

to start on virtue but give up (idiom); to fail to carry things through
lack of sticking power
short attention span

wèihǔ-zuòchāng

为虎作伥

[為虎作倀]

(idiom) to act as accomplice to the tiger; to help a villain do evil

shìzàirénwéi

事在人为

[事在人為]

the matter depends on the individual (idiom); it is a matter for your own effort
With effort, one can achieve anything.

wèiwéidàguān

蔚为大观

[蔚為大觀]

to afford a magnificent sight (idiom)
enchanting

yīzhīwéishèn

一之为甚

[一之為甚]

once is more than enough (idiom)

yǐnyǐwéihàn

引以为憾

[引以為憾]

to consider sth regrettable (idiom)

dàyǒuzuòwéi

大有作为

[大有作為]

to accomplish much
to have good prospects
to have a promising future

liàngrùwéichū

量入为出

[量入為出]

to assess one's income and spend accordingly (idiom); to live within one's means
You can only spend what you earn.

huàwéiwūyǒu

化为乌有

[化為烏有]

to go up in smoke; to vanish

xiǎnwéirénzhī

鲜为人知

[鮮為人知]

rarely known to anyone (idiom); almost unknown
secret to all but a few

lìtāxíngwéi

利他行为

[利他行為]

altruistic behavior

huàzhěngwéilíng

化整为零

[化整為零]

to break up the whole into pieces (idiom); dealing with things one by one
divide and conquer

zìyìwàngwéi

恣意妄为

[恣意妄為]

to behave unscrupulously

wúsuǒbùwéi

无所不为

[無所不為]

not stopping at anything
all manner of evil

hé'érwéiyī

合而为一

[合而為一]

to merge together (idiom); to unify disparate elements into one whole

wéishíguòzǎo

为时过早

[為時過早]

premature
too soon

shìwéizhījǐ

视为知己

[視為知己]

to consider sb as close friend (idiom); to take into one's confidence

wéishànzuìlè

为善最乐

[為善最樂]

doing good deeds brings the greatest joy (idiom)

shějǐwèigōng

舍己为公

[捨己為公]

to give up one's private interests for the public good (idiom); to behave altruistically
selfless and public spirited

bīliángwéichāng

逼良为娼

[逼良為娼]

to force an honest girl into prostitution (idiom)
to debauch

yǐshǐwéijiàn

以史为鉴

[以史為鑒]

to learn from history (idiom)

shàxuèwéiméng

歃血为盟

[歃血為盟]

to smear the lips with blood when taking an oath (idiom)
to swear a sacred oath

shějǐwèirén

舍己为人

[捨己為人]

to abandon self for others (idiom, from Analects); to sacrifice one's own interest for other people
altruism

zhuǎnwēiwéi'ān

转危为安

[轉危為安]

to turn peril into safety (idiom); to avert a danger (esp. political or medical)

yǐlínwéihè

以邻为壑

[以鄰為壑]

to use one's neighbor as a drain
to shift one's problems onto others (idiom)

kuāndàwéihuái

宽大为怀

[寬大為懷]

magnanimous (idiom)
generous

bùzúwéilü

不足为虑

[不足為慮]

to give no cause for anxiety; nothing to worry about

chácháwéimíng

察察为明

[察察為明]

keenly observant of trivial details

qīnlìqīnwéi

亲力亲为

[親力親為]

to do sth oneself

bùwéisuǒdòng

不为所动

[不為所動]

to remain unmoved

hùwéiyīnguǒ

互为因果

[互為因果]

mutually related karma (idiom); fates are intertwined
interdependent

huàdìwéiláo

画地为牢

[畫地為牢]

lit. to be confined within a circle drawn on the ground (idiom)
fig. to confine oneself to a restricted range of activities

bùzúwéiguài

不足为怪

[不足為怪]

not at all surprising (idiom)

zhuànbàiwéishèng

转败为胜

[轉敗為勝]

to turn defeat into victory (idiom); snatching victory from the jaws of defeat

yǐnyǐwéi'ào

引以为傲

[引以為傲]

to be intensely proud of sth (idiom)

wéidébùzhōng

为德不终

[為德不終]

to start on virtue but give up (idiom); to fail to carry things through
lack of sticking power
short attention span

xíyǐwéicháng

习以为常

[習以為常]

accustomed to
used to

hùnwéiyītán

混为一谈

[混為一談]

to confuse one thing with another (idiom); to muddle

qìjīnwéizhǐ

迄今为止

[迄今為止]

so far
up to now
still (not)

bàirénwéishī

拜人为师

[拜人為師]

to acknowledge as one's teacher

wèi'àigǔzhǎng

为爱鼓掌

[為愛鼓掌]

(neologism) (slang) to have sex

xíngwéishùjù

行为数据

[行為數據]

behavioral data (marketing)

xiāndǔwéikuài

先睹为快

[先睹為快]

(idiom) to consider it a pleasure to be among the first to read (or watch or enjoy)

huàdìwéiyù

画地为狱

[畫地為獄]

see 畫地為牢／画地为牢 (huàdìwéiláo)

yǐnyǐwéijiè

引以为戒

[引以為戒]

to take sth as a warning (idiom)
to draw a lesson from a case where things turned out badly

wéisuǒyùwéi

为所欲为

[為所欲為]

(idiom) to do whatever one pleases

zǒuwéishàngjì

走为上计

[走為上計]

see 三十六計，走為上策／三十六计，走为上策 (sānshíliùjì,zǒuwéishàngcè)

fāfènyǒuwéi

发奋有为

[發奮有為]

to prove one's worth through firm resolve (idiom)

yánwéixīnshēng

言为心声

[言為心聲]

one's words reflect one's thinking (idiom)

zhù Zhòuwéinüè

助纣为虐

[助紂為虐]

lit. helping tyrant Zhou 商紂王／商纣王 ( Shāng Zhòuwáng) in his oppression (idiom)
fig. to take the side of the evildoer
giving succor to the enemy

fèngwéiguīniè

奉为圭臬

[奉為圭臬]

to take as a guiding principle (idiom)

wéirénbùfù

为仁不富

[為仁不富]

the rich man cannot be benevolent (idiom, from Mencius). It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 19:24).

xìnyǐwéizhēn

信以为真

[信以為真]

to take sth to be true

rùtǔwéi'ān

入土为安

[入土為安]

buried and at rest (idiom); Resquiescat in pacem (RIP)

yíwéipíngdì

夷为平地

[夷為平地]

to level
to raze to the ground

miǎnlì'érwéi

勉力而为

[勉力而為]

to try one's best to do sth (idiom)

xuēzhíwéimín

削职为民

[削職為民]

demotion to commoner (idiom)

lángbèiwéijiān

狼狈为奸

[狼狽為奸]

villains collude together (idiom); to work hand in glove with sb (to nefarious ends)

niǔkuīwéiyíng

扭亏为盈

[扭虧為盈]

to get into the black; to become profitable

yǎnghǔwéihuàn

养虎为患

[養虎為患]

lit. to nurture a tiger invites calamity
fig. to indulge one's enemy is asking for trouble (idiom)

bùzúwéixùn

不足为训

[不足為訓]

not to be taken as an example
not an example to be followed
not to be taken as authoritative

huàdíwéiyǒu

化敌为友

[化敵為友]

to convert an enemy into a friend (idiom)

fǎnbàiwéishèng

反败为胜

[反敗為勝]

to turn defeat into victory (idiom); to turn the tide

shànzìwéimóu

善自为谋

[善自為謀]

to be good at working for one's own profit (idiom)

yǐhéwéiguì

以和为贵

[以和為貴]

harmony is to be prized

yǔrénwéishàn

与人为善

[與人為善]

to be of service to others
to help others
benevolent

zhànwéijǐyǒu

占为己有

[佔為己有]

to appropriate to oneself (what rightfully belongs to others)

wéishíyǐwǎn

为时已晚

[為時已晚]

already too late

dàoguǒwéiyīn

倒果为因

[倒果為因]

to reverse cause and effect
to put the horse before the cart

yǒusuǒzuòwéi

有所作为

[有所作為]

(idiom) to achieve sth worthwhile; to make a positive contribution

wúyǐwéibào

无以为报

[無以為報]

unable to return the favor

yǒuwéiyǒushǒu

有为有守

[有為有守]

able to act while maintaining one's integrity (idiom)
also written 有守有為／有守有为 (yǒushǒuyǒuwéi)

pòtìwéixiào

破涕为笑

[破涕為笑]

to turn tears into laughter (idiom); to turn grief into happiness

rónghéwéiyī

融合为一

[融合為一]

to form a cohesive whole
to fuse together

rénmǎnwéihuàn

人满为患

[人滿為患]

packed with people
overcrowded
overpopulation

hùxiànwéichuān

户限为穿

[戶限為穿]

to have an endless stream of visitors (idiom)

wúyǐwéishēng

无以为生

[無以為生]

no way to get by

zhǐfùwéihūn

指腹为婚

[指腹為婚]

to propose the future marriage of two unborn babies on condition that one turns out to be a boy, and the other, a girl (idiom)

huàwéipàoyǐng

化为泡影

[化為泡影]

(idiom) to come to nothing

hélèbùwéi

何乐不为

[何樂不為]

see 何樂而不為／何乐而不为 (héléérbuwéi)

zhùrénwéilè

助人为乐

[助人為樂]

pleasure from helping others (idiom)

fǎnkèwéizhǔ

反客为主

[反客為主]

lit. the guest acts as host (idiom); fig. to turn from passive to active behavior

hàowéirénshī

好为人师

[好為人師]

to like to lecture others (idiom)

qīnquánxíngwéi

侵权行为

[侵權行為]

tort; infringement (of sb's rights)

suǒzuòsuǒwéi

所作所为

[所作所為]

one's conduct and deeds

wúsuǒzuòwéi

无所作为

[無所作為]

attempting nothing and accomplishing nothing (idiom); without any initiative or drive
feckless

shìwéiwèitú

视为畏途

[視為畏途]

to view as dangerous (idiom); afraid to do sth

zìyǐwéishì

自以为是

[自以為是]

to believe oneself infallible (idiom)
to be opinionated

dàyǒukěwéi

大有可为

[大有可為]

with great prospects for the future (idiom); well worth doing

tànwéiguānzhǐ

叹为观止

[嘆為觀止]

(idiom) to gasp in amazement
to acclaim as the peak of perfection

bùzúwéidào

不足为道

[不足為道]

to be not worth mentioning

péngbǐwéijiān

朋比为奸

[朋比為奸]

to conspire
to gang up

mìshíxíngwéi

觅食行为

[覓食行為]

foraging

hǎozìwéizhī

好自为之

[好自為之]

to do one's best; to shape up; to fend for oneself
you're on your own

wúnéngwéilì

无能为力

[無能為力]

impotent (idiom)
powerless
helpless

dǎndàwàngwéi

胆大妄为

[膽大妄為]

daring
presumptuous
daredevil

xiānrùwéizhǔ

先入为主

[先入為主]

(idiom) the first impression is the strongest; to hold a preconceived notion (about sth)

jiànyìyǒngwéi

见义勇为

[見義勇為]

to see what is right and act courageously (idiom, from Analects); to stand up bravely for the truth
acting heroically in a just cause

zhuǎnbēiwéixǐ

转悲为喜

[轉悲為喜]

to turn grief into happiness (idiom)

jìnlì'érwéi

尽力而为

[盡力而為]

to try one's utmost
to strive

bùbùwéiyíng

步步为营

[步步為營]

to advance gradually and entrench oneself at every step
to consolidate at every step

yǎnjiànwéishí

眼见为实

[眼見為實]

seeing is believing

jiéjiéwéiyì

孑孑为义

[孑孑為義]

petty favors

miǎnwéiqínán

勉为其难

[勉為其難]

to tackle a difficult job (idiom)
to do sth reluctantly

wéishíbùwǎn

为时不晚

[為時不晚]

it is not too late (idiom)

sìyìwàngwéi

肆意妄为

[肆意妄為]

see 恣意妄為／恣意妄为 (zìyìwàngwéi)

húzuòfēiwéi

胡作非为

[胡作非為]

to run amok (idiom); to commit outrages

róngwéiyītǐ

融为一体

[融為一體]

to fuse together (idiom)
hypostatic union (religion)

bùwéijiǔkùn

不为酒困

[不為酒困]

not a slave to the bottle
able to enjoy alcohol in moderation
able to hold one's drink

jùwéijǐyǒu

据为己有

[據為己有]

(idiom) to illegally take possession of; to appropriate

fànzuìxíngwéi

犯罪行为

[犯罪行為]

criminal activity

xíngwéizhǔyì

行为主义

[行為主義]

behaviorism

hǎidàoxíngwéi

海盗行为

[海盜行為]

piracy

lùlùwúwéi

碌碌无为

[碌碌無為]

unaccomplished
mediocre
feckless

wéishíwèiwǎn

为时未晚

[為時未晚]

it is not too late (idiom)

bùyǐwéiyì

不以为意

[不以為意]

not to mind
unconcerned

sìhǎiwéijiā

四海为家

[四海為家]

to regard the four corners of the world all as home (idiom)
to feel at home anywhere
to roam about unconstrained
to consider the entire country, or world, to be one's own

dàocǐwéizhǐ

到此为止

[到此為止]

to stop at this point
to end here
to call it a day

xíngwéizhǔnzé

行为准则

[行為準則]

code of conduct
standard of conduct

shǎoshuōwéijiā

少说为佳

[少說為佳]

Few words are best.
Brevity is the soul of wit.

wéirénshībiǎo

为人师表

[為人師表]

to serve as a model for others (idiom)
to be a worthy teacher

ǒuyīwéizhī

偶一为之

[偶一為之]

to do sth once in a while (idiom)
to do sth more as an exception than the rule

yīyánwéizhòng

一言为重

[一言為重]

each word carries weight
a promise must be kept (idiom)

bùwéiyǐshèn

不为已甚

[不為已甚]

refrain from going to extremes in meting out punishment
not be too hard on subject

yǐshènwéijiàn

以慎为键

[以慎為鍵]

to take caution as the key (idiom); to proceed very carefully

kèyìwéizhī

刻意为之

[刻意為之]

to make a conscious effort
to do something deliberately

zuǒyòuwéinán

左右为难

[左右為難]

(idiom) between a rock and a hard place
in a dilemma

cíbēiwéiběn

慈悲为本

[慈悲為本]

mercy as the guiding principle (idiom); the Buddhist teaching that nothing is valid except compassion

yǐnyǐwéiróng

引以为荣

[引以為榮]

to regard it as an honor (idiom)

shāngyèxíngwéi

商业行为

[商業行為]

business activity
commercial activity

hézhòngwéiyī

合众为一

[合眾為一]

united as one
e pluribus unum

niánqīngyǒuwéi

年轻有为

[年輕有為]

young and promising

xiāngyīwéimìng

相依为命

[相依為命]

mutually dependent for life (idiom); to rely upon one another for survival
interdependent

xiàbùwéilì

下不为例

[下不為例]

not to be repeated
not to be taken as a precedent
just this once

zhǐlùwéimǎ

指鹿为马

[指鹿為馬]

making a deer out to be a horse (idiom); deliberate misrepresentation

yīfēnwéi'èr

一分为二

[一分為二]

one divides into two
to be two-sided
there are two sides to everything
to see both sb's good points and shortcomings (idiom)

wéifēizuòdǎi

为非作歹

[為非作歹]

to break the law and commit crimes (idiom); malefactor
evildoer
to perpetrate outrages

luòcǎowéikòu

落草为寇

[落草為寇]

to take to the woods to become an outlaw (idiom)

gǎnwéirénxiān

敢为人先

[敢為人先]

to dare to be first
to pioneer (idiom)

bùwèizuǒyòutǎn

不为左右袒

[不為左右袒]

to remain neutral in a quarrel (idiom)

dàomùqiánwéizhǐ

到目前为止

[到目前為止]

until now; so far

mínyǐshíwéitiān

民以食为天

[民以食為天]

Food is the God of the people. (idiom); People view food as the primary need.
Food first, ethical niceties second

hūnqiánxìngxíngwéi

婚前性行为

[婚前性行為]

premarital sex

xiānxiàshǒuwéiqiáng

先下手为强

[先下手為強]

(idiom) strike first to gain the upper hand

yǎnbùjiànwéijìng

眼不见为净

[眼不見為淨]

what remains unseen is deemed to be clean
what the eye doesn't see, the heart doesn't grieve over (idiom)

hélè'érbùwéi

何乐而不为

[何樂而不為]

What can you have against it? (idiom)
We should do this.
Go for it!

fǎnshèhuìxíngwéi

反社会行为

[反社會行為]

antisocial behavior

bǎishànxiàowéixiān

百善孝为先

[百善孝為先]

of all virtues filial piety is most important (idiom)

wèirénmínfúwù

为人民服务

[為人民服務]

Serve the People!, CCP political slogan

wùyǐxīwéiguì

物以稀为贵

[物以稀為貴]

the rarer sth is, the greater its value (idiom)

qiǎngpòxìngxìngxíngwéi

强迫性性行为

[強迫性性行為]

sexual obsession

bùzúwéiwàiréndào

不足为外人道

[不足為外人道]

no use to tell others
let's keep this between ourselves (idiom)

bùdéyǐ'érwéizhī

不得已而为之

[不得已而為之]

to have no other choice
to be the last resort

wèiwǔdǒumǐzhéyāo

为五斗米折腰

[為五斗米折腰]

(allusion to Tao Qian 陶潛／陶潜 ( Táo Qián), who used this phrase when he resigned from government service rather than show subservience to a visiting inspector) to bow and scrape for five pecks of rice (that being a part of his salary as a local magistrate)
(fig.) to compromise one's principles for the sake of a salary

huàfǔxiǔwéishénqí

化腐朽为神奇

[化腐朽為神奇]

lit. to change something rotten into something magical (idiom)

yǔquánshìjièwéidí

与全世界为敌

[與全世界為敵]

(idiom) to fight the whole world

fēiguójiāxíngwéitǐ

非国家行为体

[非國家行為體]

non-state actor

huàgāngēwéiyùbó

化干戈为玉帛

[化干戈為玉帛]

lit. to exchange weapons of war for gifts of jade and silk (idiom)
fig. to turn hostility into friendship

dúzàiyìxiāngwéiyìkè

独在异乡为异客

[獨在異鄉為異客]

a stranger in a strange land (from a poem by Wang Wei 王維／王维 ( Wáng Wéi))

shíshíwùzhěwéijùnjié

识时务者为俊杰

[識時務者為俊傑]

(idiom) only an outstanding talent can recognize current trends; a wise man submits to circumstances

zhīqíbùkě'érwéizhī

知其不可而为之

[知其不可而為之]

to keep going resolutely despite knowing the task is impossible (idiom)

dàobùtóngbùxiāngwéimóu

道不同不相为谋

[道不同不相為謀]

lit. persons who walk different paths cannot make plans together
to go separate ways (idiom)

zhùrénwéikuàilèzhīběn

助人为快乐之本

[助人為快樂之本]

pleasure from helping others

fānshǒuwéiyúnfùshǒubiànyǔ

翻手为云覆手变雨

[翻手為雲覆手變雨]

lit. turning his hand palm up he gathers the clouds, turning his hand palm down he turns them to rain
very powerful and capable (idiom)

qiǎofùnánwéiwúmǐzhīchuī

巧妇难为无米之炊

[巧婦難為無米之炊]

The cleverest housewife cannot cook without rice (idiom); You won't get anywhere without equipment.

nìngwéijītóu,bùwéifèngwěi

宁为鸡头，不为凤尾

[寧為雞頭，不為鳳尾]

see 寧做雞頭，不做鳳尾／宁做鸡头，不做凤尾 (nìngzuòjītóu,bùzuòfèngwěi)

ěrtīngwéixū,yǎnjiànwéishí

耳听为虚，眼见为实

[耳聽為虛，眼見為實]

(idiom) you cannot always trust what you hear, but seeing is believing

sānshíliùjì,zǒuwéishàngjì

三十六计，走为上计

[三十六計，走為上計]

see 三十六計，走為上策／三十六计，走为上策 (sānshíliùjì,zǒuwéishàngcè)

jīngchéngsuǒzhì,jīnshíwèikāi

精诚所至，金石为开

[精誠所至，金石為開]

lit. metal and stone yield to power of sincerity (idiom)
fig. no difficulty is insurmountable if one is sincere

jīngchéngsuǒjiā,jīnshíwèikāi

精诚所加，金石为开

[精誠所加，金石為開]

see 精誠所至，金石為開／精诚所至，金石为开 (jīngchéngsuǒzhì,jīnshíwèikāi)

wéifù-bùrén,wéirén-bùfù

为富不仁，为仁不富

[為富不仁，為仁不富]

(idiom, from Mencius) the rich are not benevolent, and the benevolent are not rich

yǎnjiànwéishí,ěrtīngwéixū

眼见为实，耳听为虚

[眼見為實，耳聽為虛]

to believe what one sees, not what one hears (idiom). Don't believe what people tell you until you see if for yourself.
It ain't necessarily so.

yīzhīhàozhìbùbìngyǐwéigōng

医之好治不病以为功

[醫之好治不病以為功]

doctors like to treat those who are not sick so that they can get credit for the patient's "recovery" (idiom)

rénbùwèijǐ,tiānzhūdìmiè

人不为己，天诛地灭

[人不為己，天誅地滅]

Look out for yourself, or heaven and earth will combine to destroy you.
Every man for himself, and the Devil take the hindmost.

chéngzhěwéiwáng,bàizhěwéikòu

成者为王，败者为寇

[成者為王，敗者為寇]

see 成則為王，敗則為寇／成则为王，败则为寇 (chéngzéwéiwáng,bàizéwéikòu)

nìngwéiyùsuì,bùwéiwǎquán

宁为玉碎，不为瓦全

[寧為玉碎，不為瓦全]

Better broken jade than intact tile.
Death is preferable to dishonor. (idiom)

sānshíliùjì,zǒuwéishàngcè

三十六计，走为上策

[三十六計，走為上策]

of the thirty-six stratagems, the best option is to flee (idiom)
the best thing to do is leave

yīrìwéishī,zhōngshēnwéifù

一日为师，终身为父

[一日為師，終身為父]

lit. teacher for one day, father for ever (idiom)

chéngzéwéiwáng,bàizéwéikòu

成则为王，败则为寇

[成則為王，敗則為寇]

lit. called a king if successful, called a bandit if defeated (idiom)
fig. losers are always in the wrong

rénwéidāozǔ,wǒwéiyúròu

人为刀俎，我为鱼肉

[人為刀俎，我為魚肉]

lit. to be the meat on sb's chopping block (idiom)
fig. to be at sb's mercy

rénwèicáisǐ,niǎowèishíwáng

人为财死，鸟为食亡

[人為財死，鳥為食亡]

lit. human beings will die for riches, just as birds will for food (idiom)
fig. man will do anything in his means to become rich

bùxiàoyǒusān,wúhòuwéidà

不孝有三，无后为大

[不孝有三，無後為大]

There are three ways to be unfilial; having no sons is the worst. (citation from Mencius 孟子 ( Mèngzǐ))

chīdékǔzhōngkǔ,fāngwéirénshàngrén

吃得苦中苦，方为人上人

[吃得苦中苦，方為人上人]

one cannot achieve glory and wealth without having been through trials and tribulations (proverb)
no pain, no gain

ruòyàorénbùzhī,chúfēijǐmòwéi

若要人不知，除非己莫为

[若要人不知，除非己莫為]

If you don't want anyone to know, don't do it (idiom). fig. If you do something bad, people will inevitably hear about it.

Máo Zédōng: Xiānwéirénzhīde Gùshi

毛泽东：鲜为人知的故事

[毛澤東：鮮為人知的故事]

Mao: The Unknown Story by Jung Chang 張戎／张戎 ( Zhāng Róng) and Jon Halliday

shìwèizhījǐzhěsǐ,nüwèiyuèjǐzhěróng

士为知己者死，女为悦己者容

[士為知己者死，女為悅己者容]

a true gentleman will sacrifice his life for a friend who understands him, as a woman makes herself beautiful for her sweetheart

dāngguānbùwèimínzuòzhǔbùrúhuíjiāmàihóngshǔ

当官不为民做主不如回家卖红薯

[當官不為民做主不如回家賣紅薯]

if an official does not put the people first, he might as well go home and sell sweet potatoes

yǒuchóubùbàofēijūnzǐ,yǒuyuānbùshēnwǎngwéirén

有仇不报非君子，有冤不伸枉为人

[有仇不報非君子，有冤不伸枉為人]

one who doesn't avenge an injustice is not a gentleman, one who doesn't redress a wrong is not a man (idiom)

céngjīngcānghǎinánwéishuǐ,chúquè Wū Shānbùshìyún

曾经沧海难为水，除却巫山不是云

[曾經滄海難為水，除卻巫山不是雲]

there are no rivers to one who has crossed the ocean, and no clouds to one who has passed Mount Wu (idiom)
one who has seen the world doesn't stop at small things