<p>Yes, [<strong>以</strong>][安倍的自民党][<strong>为</strong>][首][的联盟] fits the pattern of [<strong>with</strong>][A] [<strong>as</strong>] [B] </p>

<p>"首" is short for "首领", </p>

<p>[A - 安倍的自民党] = [B - 首领]</p>

<ul>
<li><p>'为'+'首(领)' simply means 'as leader' (preposition + noun)</p></li>
<li><p>'<strong>为首</strong>' as a set phrase, is a common adjective "<strong>leading</strong>/ <strong>top ranked</strong>" </p></li>
</ul>

<p>Example:</p>

<p>'在这次会议上, <strong>为首</strong>官员是北京市长'-- 'In this meeting, the <strong>leading</strong> (top ranked) officer is Beijing mayor'</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-23T00:51:10.697Z
Actually, my macOS pre-installed dictionary and Pleco both list 为首 as a verb, and mean "serve as the head".
Blaszard
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-23T00:52:17.877Z
But I just found that in both dictionaries, the example sentences both use 以～为 pattern. 以总统为首的代表团 & 以外交部长为首的代表团
Blaszard
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-23T00:53:30.333Z
the verb is '以' (use/ take); '为首' is  (preposition + noun)
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-23T00:54:36.903Z
So in these two example sentences is it not 以~为 pattern?
Blaszard
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-23T01:04:40.560Z
以总统为首的代表团 & 以外交部长为首的代表团 are both [ 以 (A ) 为( B)] structure--  [总统 ( A)] = [首领 (B) ]; [外交部长 (A) ] = [首领 (B)]
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-23T01:05:43.320Z
But for some reasons these two sentences are listed as an example sentence for the entry for the word 为首, and both list 为首 as a verb; it sounds awkward...
Blaszard
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-23T01:09:16.450Z
See my example of the the  difference between '为'+'首' (preposition + noun) = "as leader"  and '为首' (adjectival phrase)= "leading"
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-23T12:28:07.370Z
@Blaszard, 为首 indeed is a verb or a verb phrase, although we might translate it as a prep word 'as' in English. In 以...为首， 以 is a prep(though we could translate it as 'take' in English)， 为 is a verb and 首 is a noun. The way to differentiate whether 为 is a verb or prep is that it's pronounced as second tone *wei2* when it's a verb, fourth tone *wei4* when it's a prep.
dan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-23T13:18:13.680Z
@dan 为 can be a verb in other context, but following  以, 为 is acting as a preposition,
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-23T13:24:09.627Z
为 in '为首' in a verb, but '为首'  as a whole, is an 'adjectival phrase, as in '为首數人都是專家'
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-23T22:25:05.720Z
@TangHo, No, 为首 indeed is a verb or a verb phrase, because it's pronounced as the second tone 'wei2'. In 为首数人， it is used as an attributive, and it's like saying 为首的数人. Another example for a verb as an attributive is 喜欢（a verb）, 喜欢的人。 So, 为首之人 vs 喜欢之人.
dan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-23T22:29:01.463Z
@TangHo, 以...为首 is the same as 为首, in which 为 is a verb. for example, 我们以他为首， 以他 is a prep phrase, 为 is the verb, 我们 is the subject, 首 is the object.
dan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-23T00:47:50.067Z
2017-10-23T01:17:23.600Z
2017-10-23T01:17:23.600Z
Tang Ho
<p>以～为: take...as... </p>

<p>In 为首， 首 means head or leader, while 为 means as. </p>

<p>For example, 以瘦为美：take thin as beauty; 以他为首： take him as leader;</p>

<p>So, 以安倍的自民党为首: take 安倍的自民党 as leader. 以安倍的自民党为首的 is attributive to modify 联盟. 安倍的自民党 is the head. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-23T00:36:31.077Z
Surely I know the 以~为 phrase. So according to your answer, in this sentence is it not 为首 but just 首 that modifies 自民党?
Blaszard
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-23T00:37:16.750Z
Also, is it a valid sentence to duplicate 为, such that 以安倍的自民党为为首的?
Blaszard
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-23T00:41:18.603Z
Or put it in another way, my question is: Is it [ **以** (安倍的自民党) **为** (首)的]联盟 (以～为 modifies 联盟), or is it **以** [(安倍的自民党为首)的]联盟 (安倍的自民党为首 modifies 联盟)?
Blaszard
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-23T00:48:49.370Z
it should be 【（以 安倍的自民党 为 首）的】联盟. "以安倍的自民党为为首的?" is wrong, and only one 为 is needed. 以安倍的自民党为首的
dan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-23T00:52:25.547Z
自民党 is modified by 安倍 的
dan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-23T00:53:57.530Z
But doesn't 为首 also mean "leader" or "head"? So I wonder if it is OK to say 以安倍的自民党为为首的 as well...
Blaszard
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-23T00:57:42.537Z
I told you already 以安倍的自民党为为首的 is wrong. So, it's either used as 以... 为首 or 为首. For example, 为首的人是他。；以他为首;
dan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-23T01:01:45.760Z
Actually, 首 means leader or head, while 为 means 'as'. So, 为首：as leader.
dan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-23T00:33:01.100Z
2017-10-23T01:08:39.553Z
2017-10-23T01:08:39.553Z
dan
<p>According to <a href="https://www.voachinese.com/a/news-japan-election-20171022/4081156.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">the following sentence</a>:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>日本一家电视台的民调显示，<strong>以安倍的自民党为首的联盟</strong>将保持三分之二的“绝对多数”，与安倍九月份解散议会下院之前的比例相当。</p>
</blockquote>

<p>The bold sentence starts with 以, and it also has 为. So at first I assumed it is 以～为 pattern, which is "regarding A as B" or "taking A as B" in English.</p>

<p>However, I also found that 为首 means "serve as the head", and it should exactly refer to 安倍. And I understand the meaning then.</p>

<p>So is this sentence 以～为 pattern or not? If not, what does the leading 以 mean and work in this context?</p>

<meaning-in-context><phrase>
Does 以安倍的自民党为首的联盟 use the 以 ~ 为 pattern?
# Does 以安倍的自民党为首的联盟 use the 以 ~ 为 pattern?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-10-22)

According to [the following sentence](https://www.voachinese.com/a/news-japan-election-20171022/4081156.html):

> 日本一家电视台的民调显示，**以安倍的自民党为首的联盟**将保持三分之二的“绝对多数”，与安倍九月份解散议会下院之前的比例相当。

The bold sentence starts with 以, and it also has 为. So at first I assumed it is 以～为 pattern, which is "regarding A as B" or "taking A as B" in English.

However, I also found that 为首 means "serve as the head", and it should exactly refer to 安倍. And I understand the meaning then.

So is this sentence 以～为 pattern or not? If not, what does the leading 以 mean and work in this context?

**Tags:** meaning-in-context, phrase


---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2017-10-23. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

Yes, [**以**][安倍的自民党][**为**][首][的联盟] fits the pattern of [**with**][A] [**as**] [B]

"首" is short for "首领",

[A - 安倍的自民党] = [B - 首领]

* '为'+'首(领)' simply means 'as leader' (preposition + noun)
* '**为首**' as a set phrase, is a common adjective "**leading**/ **top ranked**"

Example:

'在这次会议上, **为首**官员是北京市长'-- 'In this meeting, the **leading** (top ranked) officer is Beijing mayor'

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Actually, my macOS pre-installed dictionary and Pleco both list 为首 as a verb, and mean "serve as the head".  
> **username_0**: But I just found that in both dictionaries, the example sentences both use 以～为 pattern. 以总统为首的代表团 & 以外交部长为首的代表团  
> **username_1**: the verb is '以' (use/ take); '为首' is  (preposition + noun)  
> **username_0**: So in these two example sentences is it not 以~为 pattern?  
> **username_1**: 以总统为首的代表团 & 以外交部长为首的代表团 are both [ 以 (A ) 为( B)] structure--  [总统 ( A)] = [首领 (B) ]; [外交部长 (A) ] = [首领 (B)]  
> **username_0**: But for some reasons these two sentences are listed as an example sentence for the entry for the word 为首, and both list 为首 as a verb; it sounds awkward...  
> **username_1**: See my example of the the  difference between '为'+'首' (preposition + noun) = "as leader"  and '为首' (adjectival phrase)= "leading"  
> **username_2**: @username_0, 为首 indeed is a verb or a verb phrase, although we might translate it as a prep word 'as' in English. In 以...为首， 以 is a prep(though we could translate it as 'take' in English)， 为 is a verb and 首 is a noun. The way to differentiate whether 为 is a verb or prep is that it's pronounced as second tone *wei2* when it's a verb, fourth tone *wei4* when it's a prep.  
> **username_1**: @username_2 为 can be a verb in other context, but following  以, 为 is acting as a preposition,  
> **username_1**: 为 in '为首' in a verb, but '为首'  as a whole, is an 'adjectival phrase, as in '为首數人都是專家'  
> **username_2**: @username_1, No, 为首 indeed is a verb or a verb phrase, because it's pronounced as the second tone 'wei2'. In 为首数人， it is used as an attributive, and it's like saying 为首的数人. Another example for a verb as an attributive is 喜欢（a verb）, 喜欢的人。 So, 为首之人 vs 喜欢之人.  
> **username_2**: @username_1, 以...为首 is the same as 为首, in which 为 is a verb. for example, 我们以他为首， 以他 is a prep phrase, 为 is the verb, 我们 is the subject, 首 is the object.  

---

### Answer by username_2 on 2017-10-23. Score: 1

以～为: take...as...

In 为首， 首 means head or leader, while 为 means as.

For example, 以瘦为美：take thin as beauty; 以他为首： take him as leader;

So, 以安倍的自民党为首: take 安倍的自民党 as leader. 以安倍的自民党为首的 is attributive to modify 联盟. 安倍的自民党 is the head.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Surely I know the 以~为 phrase. So according to your answer, in this sentence is it not 为首 but just 首 that modifies 自民党?  
> **username_0**: Also, is it a valid sentence to duplicate 为, such that 以安倍的自民党为为首的?  
> **username_0**: Or put it in another way, my question is: Is it [ **以** (安倍的自民党) **为** (首)的]联盟 (以～为 modifies 联盟), or is it **以** [(安倍的自民党为首)的]联盟 (安倍的自民党为首 modifies 联盟)?  
> **username_2**: it should be 【（以 安倍的自民党 为 首）的】联盟. "以安倍的自民党为为首的?" is wrong, and only one 为 is needed. 以安倍的自民党为首的  
> **username_2**: 自民党 is modified by 安倍 的  
> **username_0**: But doesn't 为首 also mean "leader" or "head"? So I wonder if it is OK to say 以安倍的自民党为为首的 as well...  
> **username_2**: I told you already 以安倍的自民党为为首的 is wrong. So, it's either used as 以... 为首 or 为首. For example, 为首的人是他。；以他为首;  
> **username_2**: Actually, 首 means leader or head, while 为 means 'as'. So, 为首：as leader.  

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