Comparing "weile" and "yinwei"
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\r\n 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!\r\n== 为了 ==\r\n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. \r\n=== Structure 1 ===\r\n
为了 + purpose，Subject + Predicate
\r\n=== Examples ===\r\n
- 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.\r\n
\r\n=== Structure 2 ===\r\nIf 为了 is put in the middle of a sentence, it is often followed with an 而.\r\n
Subject + 为了 + 目的 + （而）Predicate
\r\n=== Examples === All of these examples mean the same thing as the ones above. The different order of 为了 doesn't affect the meaning!\r\n
- 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。\r\n
\r\n== 因为 ==\r\nThe 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. \r\n=== Structure ===\r\n
因为 + reason, 所以 + result
\r\n=== Examples ===\r\n
- 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.
\r\n== Examples of right and wrong sentences ==\r\n
- 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"
\r\n== Example dialog ==\r\n
- 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.
\r\n==See Also==
- Expressing purpose with "weile"
- Explaining causes with "yinwei"\r\n== Sources and further reading ==\r\n=== Books ===\r\n*现代汉语虚词例释 (p. 1)→buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1 (pp. 347-8) →buy\r\n
