为何

為何

wèihé

adverb HSK 6 #1,120

Meanings

For what — a formal way to ask why.

Nǐ wèi hé chídào?

Why are you late?

Wèi hé méi rén gàosu wǒ?

Why did no one tell me?

Tā wèi hé yào líkāi?

Why does he want to leave?

usage

为何 is the formal/literary equivalent of 为什么 (wèi shénme). Use 为什么 in speech and 为何 in writing, news headlines, and formal questions.

grammar

为 has two pronunciations: wèi (for, because of) in 为何, 因为; and wéi (to be, to act as) in 以为, 成为.

为 wèi

何 hé