最(為), 更(為), 極(為)

[Jose]

While reading Chinese texts, I have often come across an apparently meaningless 為 (wéi) placed in front of an adjective. This seems to be quite common after certain adverbs of degree like 更, 極 or 最. For example: 最為重要 instead of 最重要.

I have googled for a few examples, and I've found the following results:

最重要的問題 64200 results

最為重要的問題 4980 results

更重要的問題 15600 results

更為重要的問題 844 results

極重要的問題 1550 results

極為重要的問題 3720 results (it seems to be pretty common with jí)

My questions:

1. Does that 為 modify the meaning in any way?

2. If it doesn't, can I freely chuck in a 為 in front of any adjective when I write in Chinese? Or is that restricted to those three little adverbs?

I would appreciate it if anyone can shed any light on this.

[fatball]

為 doen't modify the meaning.

这是一种习惯用法，可以使语句更为流畅，多用于书面，

[yonglan]

Edit:

Jose, according to New Age Chinese-English Dictionary (excellent) there are two usages that may be of interest to you.

1) "used after certain single-character adjectives to form adverbs to indicate 'extent', 'scope', etc.

廣為流傳 spread far and wide

大為增加 increase greatly

深為感動 be deeply moved"

2) "used after certain single-character adverbs to strengthen the tone

極為幸福 extremely happy

更為重要 even more important

甚為特殊 very extraordinary indeed"

[Edit: I have since found basically the same info in three other Chinese-English dictionaries, including Contemporary

http://www.chinese-forums.com/viewtopic.php?t=3056&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

, though when I was in the bookstore today I did not find it in any Chinese only dictionaries. When I return to the US I will have to see if my Chinese dictionaries there have it.

[Jose]

fatball,

非常感谢你的解释!

yonglan,

thanks for the information and the good examples. It looks as if I should get a new dictionary. I'm still using the little red book after all these years...