Difference between revisions of "Expressing purpose with "weile""

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* 我这么做 是 <em>为了</em> 你 。<span class="trans">Did is for you.</span>
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* 我这么做 是 <em>为了</em> 你 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ zhème zuò shì <em>wèile</em> nǐ.</span><span class="trans">Did is for you.</span>
  
 
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Revision as of 16:58, 24 December 2014

为了 (wèile) is most often used to indicate the purpose of an action, or the person that will benefit from some act of kindness. In the "purpose" sense, it corresponds pretty well to "in order to" or "for the purpose of" in English.

为了 as a preposition

When 为了 indicates the purpose of an action, it's usually acting as a prepositions. In this role, the whole "为了 phrase" should come before the verb.

Note also that 为了 is a single word; the 了 here is not serving its role as a particle in this case.

Structure

为了+ [some purpose], Subject + Predicate

Examples

  • 为了 钱 , 他 出卖 了 朋友 。 Wèile qián, tā chūmài le péngyǒu.(money is the purpose) He betrayed his friends for money.
  • 为了 给 他 太太 庆祝生日,他 办 了 一 个 盛大的 派对 。 Wèile gěi tā tàitài qìngzhù shēngrì, tā bàn le yī gè shèngdà de pàiduì.(the wife benefits) He threw a grand party to celebrate his wife's birthday.
  • 为了 有 一个 好 的 未来, 我 必须 好好 学习 。 Wèile yǒu yī gè hǎo de wèilái, wǒ bìxū hǎo hào xuéxí.(having a good future is the purpose) In order to have a good future, I have to study hard.

为了 as a verb

Occasionally you will see 为了 acting as a verb by itself. In this case, it usually combines with 是, and the meaning is not hard to derive: "to be for."

Structure

Subject + (是 +) 为了 + Objective

Example

  • 我这么做 是 为了 你 。Wǒ zhème zuò shì wèile nǐ.Did is for you.

See also

Sources and further reading

Podcasts

Books

Websites