为何

為何

wèihé

adverb HSK 6 #1,120

Meanings

For what - a formal way to ask why.

HSK 1

为何没人告诉我？

Wèihé méi rén gàosu wǒ?

Why did no one tell me?

HSK 4

你为何迟到？

Nǐ wèihé chídào?

Why are you late?

HSK 5

面对如此激烈的竞争他为何还能保持冷静？

Miànduì rúcǐ jīliè de jìngzhēng tā wèihé hái néng bǎochí lěngjìng?

Facing such fierce competition, why is he still able to stay calm?

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 wéi

何 hé