慈悲为怀

cí bēi wéi huái

to have compassion at heart; to be merciful

Character by character

慈cí
mercy

悲bēi
compassion

为wéi
as

怀huái
heart

老和尚说：“出家人慈悲为怀，你饿了就在寺里吃顿饭吧。”

The old monk said: “We monks hold compassion dear; if you are hungry, have a meal here in the temple.”

Tone: positive (praise).

Built on the Buddhist word 慈悲 (compassion), often 以慈悲为怀 or 出家人慈悲为怀. 为 is wéi (“to take as”), not wèi. Also used to plead for mercy: 请您慈悲为怀，放他一马.

Learn this in Lesson 245 · HSK 9+: 妈祖 (Mazu, goddess of the sea)

A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.