Difference between revisions of "Expressing purpose with "weile""
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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 (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. | ||
| − | == Basic | + | == Basic Usage == |
When 为了 indicates the purpose of an action, it's usually acting as a [[preposition]]. In this role, the ''whole'' "为了 phrase" should come '''before''' the verb. | When 为了 indicates the purpose of an action, it's usually acting as a [[preposition]]. In this role, the ''whole'' "为了 phrase" should come '''before''' the verb. | ||
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<div class="jiegou"> | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
| − | 为了 ⋯⋯ ，Subj. | + | 为了 ⋯⋯ ，Subj. ⋯⋯ |
</div> | </div> | ||
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*<em>为了</em> 庆祝 太太 的 生日 ，他 办 了 一 个 很 大 的 派对 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Wèile</em> qìngzhù tàitai de shēngrì, tā bàn le yī gè hěn dà de pàiduì.</span><span class="trans">He threw a huge party to celebrate his wife's birthday.</span> | *<em>为了</em> 庆祝 太太 的 生日 ，他 办 了 一 个 很 大 的 派对 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Wèile</em> qìngzhù tàitai de shēngrì, tā bàn le yī gè hěn dà de pàiduì.</span><span class="trans">He threw a huge party to celebrate his wife's birthday.</span> | ||
*<em>为了</em> 孩子 的 未来 ，他 决定 搬到 上海 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Wèile</em> háizi de wèilái, tā juédìng bāndào Shanghai.</span><span class="trans">In order to give his child a good future, he decided to move to Shanghai.</span> | *<em>为了</em> 孩子 的 未来 ，他 决定 搬到 上海 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Wèile</em> háizi de wèilái, tā juédìng bāndào Shanghai.</span><span class="trans">In order to give his child a good future, he decided to move to Shanghai.</span> | ||
| − | *<em>为了</em> | + | *<em>为了</em> 能 跟 。<span class="trans">In order to .</span> |
</div> | </div> | ||
| − | ==Advanced Usage == | + | == Advanced Usage == |
Sometimes you will see 为了 coming after 是. In this case, it often goes with [[Stating the effect before the cause|之所以]] (a more difficult pattern, not explored here), which means "the reason why" in a more formal way. | Sometimes you will see 为了 coming after 是. In this case, it often goes with [[Stating the effect before the cause|之所以]] (a more difficult pattern, not explored here), which means "the reason why" in a more formal way. | ||
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*他 做 兼职 <em>是 为了</em> 多 赚 一些 钱 。<span class="pinyin">Tā zuò jiānzhí <em>shì wèile</em> duō zhuàn yīxiē qián.</span><span class="trans">The reason why he does a part time jog is to make a little more money.</span> | *他 做 兼职 <em>是 为了</em> 多 赚 一些 钱 。<span class="pinyin">Tā zuò jiānzhí <em>shì wèile</em> duō zhuàn yīxiē qián.</span><span class="trans">The reason why he does a part time jog is to make a little more money.</span> | ||
| + | *她 <em>之所以</em> 离职 <em>是 为了</em> 创业 。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>zhīsuǒyǐ</em> lízhí <em>shì wèile</em> chuàngyè.</span><span class="trans">The reason why she left the job is to start her own business.</span> | ||
*你 学 中文 <em>是 为了</em> 在 中国 找 工作 吗 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ xué Zhōngwén <em>shì wèile</em> zài Zhōngguó zhǎo gōngzuò ma?</span><span class="trans">Are you studying Chinese in order to find a job in China?</span> | *你 学 中文 <em>是 为了</em> 在 中国 找 工作 吗 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ xué Zhōngwén <em>shì wèile</em> zài Zhōngguó zhǎo gōngzuò ma?</span><span class="trans">Are you studying Chinese in order to find a job in China?</span> | ||
| − | + | *我 这么做 <em> 是 为了</em> 帮 你 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ zhème zuò <em>shì wèile</em> bāng nǐ.</span><span class="trans">Why I did all this is to help you.</span> | |
| − | *我 这么做 <em> 是 为了</em> | ||
| − | |||
</div> | </div> | ||
Revision as of 06:49, 30 November 2017
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Level
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Similar to
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Used for
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Keywords
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.
Contents
Basic Usage
When 为了 indicates the purpose of an action, it's usually acting as a preposition. In this role, the whole "为了 phrase" should come before the verb.
Structure
为了 ⋯⋯ ，Subj. ⋯⋯
Note also that 为了 is a single word; the 了 here is not serving its role as a particle in this case.
Examples
- 为了 钱 ，他 什么 都 愿意 做 。He's willing to do anything for money.
- 为了 准备 这个 考试 ，他 最近 都 睡 得 很 晚 。He has been up late lately in order to prepare for this exam.
- 为了 庆祝 太太 的 生日 ，他 办 了 一 个 很 大 的 派对 。He threw a huge party to celebrate his wife's birthday.
- 为了 孩子 的 未来 ，他 决定 搬到 上海 。In order to give his child a good future, he decided to move to Shanghai.
- 为了 能 跟 。In order to .
Advanced Usage
Sometimes you will see 为了 coming after 是. In this case, it often goes with 之所以 (a more difficult pattern, not explored here), which means "the reason why" in a more formal way.
Structure
(之所以) ⋯⋯ 是 + 为了 + Purpose / Reason
Example
- 他 做 兼职 是 为了 多 赚 一些 钱 。The reason why he does a part time jog is to make a little more money.
- 她 之所以 离职 是 为了 创业 。The reason why she left the job is to start her own business.
- 你 学 中文 是 为了 在 中国 找 工作 吗 ？Are you studying Chinese in order to find a job in China?
- 我 这么做 是 为了 帮 你 。Why I did all this is to help you.
See Also
Sources and further reading
Podcasts
Books
- Home With Kids1 (家有儿女1) (p.32) →buy
- New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4) (p. 40) →buy
- 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 (p. 12) →buy
Websites
- Yale Chinese Usage Dictionary: Uses of 为 and 为了
