to become; to turn into
HSK level
成为 is written with 10 strokes (成: 6, 为: 4). The animation replays automatically.
成为 (chéngwéi) is a verb meaning 'to become' or 'to turn into,' marking a transition into a new identity, role, or state: 他成为了一名医生 ('he became a doctor'), 这里成为了热门景点 ('this became a popular attraction').
English speakers should note that 成为 must be followed by a noun or noun phrase — the new thing you become — and cannot be followed by an adjective. To say 'become tired/red/big' (adjective results) you use 变 or the adjective plus 了, not 成为. Compared with the more spoken 变成, 成为 is a bit more formal and often marks reaching a significant new status, especially something achieved or noteworthy.
The characters mean 'complete-into / accomplish-as.' It is neutral-to-written in register and very common in news, résumés, and narration.
Note: Slightly more written/formal than the spoken 变成. Common in reports, biographies, and considered statements about someone or something changing into a new state or role.
Character by character
Memory hook: 成 (become) + 为 (to be/as): to complete-into being something — to become it.
我们很快就成为了好朋友。
Wǒmen hěn kuài jiù chéngwéile hǎo péngyou.
We quickly became good friends.
neutral
他的梦想是成为一名飞行员。
Tā de mèngxiǎng shì chéngwéi yì míng fēixíngyuán.
His dream is to become a pilot.
neutral
这个小城市已经成为热门的旅游地。
Zhège xiǎo chéngshì yǐjīng chéngwéi rèmén de lǚyóu dì.
This small city has already become a popular tourist destination.
written
努力学习，你会成为更好的自己。
Nǔlì xuéxí, nǐ huì chéngwéi gèng hǎo de zìjǐ.
Study hard, and you'll become a better version of yourself.
neutral
变成 ('to change into') is more spoken and stresses the transformation/change itself, often physical or unexpected (冰变成水 'ice turns into water'). 成为 is more formal and stresses reaching a new role or status.
Acquire it by listening
Fluentide turns real news into Chinese listening at your exact level, so words like 成为 show up again and again in natural sentences — with pinyin and translation every time. No flashcards. Free to start.
