Comparing "weile" and "yinwei"

为了 (wèile) and 因为 (yīnwèi) both have the character "为" in them, and they have sort of similar meanings: 为了 means "in order to" and 因为 means "because." Using them properly is important if you want to master Chinese!

为了

为了 can be used to mean "in order to", basically expressing some purpose. In English we may say some things like: "In order to get fit, I will go jogging every day." It can be put in the beginning or end of a sentence, and it can also be placed after the subject.

Structure 1

为了 + purpose，Subj. + Predicate

Examples

• 为了 有 一 份 好 工作，他 去 了 上海。In order to get a good job, he went to Shanghai.
• 为了 自己 的 将来，我们 应该 好好 学习。For a good future for ourselves, we should really study well.
• 为了 能 学 好 中文，他 来 到 了 中国。In order to be able to learn Chinese well, he came to China.
• 为了 不 被 人 笑话，这 个 孩子 从来 不 出门。So that people don't laugh at him, this boy never goes outside.

Structure 2

If 为了 is put in the middle of a sentence, it is often followed with an 而.

Subj. + 为了 + 目的 + （而）Predicate

Examples

All of these examples mean the same thing as the ones above. The different order of 为了 doesn't affect the meaning!

• 他 为了 有 一 份 好 工作 而 去 了 上海。
• 我们 为了 自己 的 将来 应该 好好 学习。
• 他 为了 能 学 好 中文 而 来 到 了 中国。
• 这 个 孩子 为了 不 被 人 笑话 从 不 出门。

因为

The simplest definition of 因为 is "because." When used at the beginning of a sentence, it is often used with 所以 (which can mean "therefore" or "as a result") to express a cause and effect relationship.

Structure

因为 + reason, 所以 + result

Examples

• 因为 他 想 有 一 份 好 工作，所以 他 去 了 上海。Because he wants to get a good job, he went to Shanghai.
• 因为 我 想 有 一 个 好 的 将来，所以 我 现在 好好 学习。Because I want to have a good future, I'm going to study well now.
• 因为 他 想 学 好 中文，所以 他 来 到 了 中国。Because he wants to study Chinese well, he came to China.
• 因为 不 想 被 别人 笑话，这 个 孩子 从来 不 出门。Because he doesn't want people to laugh at him, this boy never goes outside.

Examples of right and wrong sentences

• 因为 让 妹妹 上 学，他 出去 打工。
"Because" doesn't make sense in this sentence.
• 为了 让 妹妹 上 学，他 出去 打工。
为了 means "in order to"
• 为了 今天 要 下 雨，我 带 了 一 把 雨伞。
"In order to" doesn't make sense in this sentence.
• 因为 今天 要 下 雨，（所以） 我 带 了 一 把 雨伞。
因为 means "Because"

Example dialog

• A: 你 为什么 来 上海？Why did you come to Shanghai?
• B: 因为 我 在 这里 工作。Because I work here.
• A: 你 为什么 不 在 美国 工作？Why don't you work in America?
• B: 为了 我 的 太太。她 是 上海 人。For my wife. She's Shanghainese.

See Also

• Expressing purpose with "weile"
• Explaining causes with "yinwei"

Sources and further reading

Books

• 现代汉语虚词例释 (p. 1)→buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1 (pp. 347-8) →buy

HSK4