Difference between revisions of "Comparing "weile" and "yinwei""

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#REDIRECT[[Expressing purpose with "weile"]]
 
 
 
 
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 ===
 
 
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
为了 + Purpose,Subj. + Predicate
 
</div>
 
 
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
Subj. + 为了 + 目的 (+ 而) + Predicate
 
</div>
 
 
 
=== Examples ===
 
 
 
<div class="liju">
 
 
 
* <em>为了</em> 有 一 份 好 工作,他 去 了 上海。<span class="trans">In order to get a good job, he went to Shanghai.</span>
 
* <em>为了</em> 自己 的 将来,我们 应该 好好 学习。<span class="trans">For a good future for ourselves, we should really study well.</span>
 
* <em>为了</em> 能 学 好 中文,他 来 到 了 中国。<span class="trans">In order to be able to learn Chinese well, he came to China.</span>
 
* <em>为了</em> 不 被 人 笑话,这 个 孩子 从来 不 出门。<span class="trans">So that people don't laugh at him, this boy never goes outside.</span>
 
 
 
</div>
 
 
 
== 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 ===
 
 
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
因为 + Reason,所以 + result
 
</div>
 
 
 
=== Examples ===
 
 
 
<div class="liju">
 
* <em>因为</em> 他 想 有 一 份 好 工作,所以 他 去 了 上海。<span class="trans">Because he wants to get a good job, he went to Shanghai.</span>
 
* <em>因为</em> 我 想 有 一 个 好 的 将来,所以 我 现在 好好 学习。<span class="trans">Because I want to have a good future, I'm going to study well now.</span>
 
* <em>因为</em> 他 想 学 好 中文,所以 他 来 到 了 中国。<span class="trans">Because he wants to study Chinese well, he came to China.</span>
 
* <em>因为</em> 不 想 被 别人 笑话,这 个 孩子 从来 不 出门。<span class="trans">Because he doesn't want people to laugh at him, this boy never goes outside.</span>
 
</div>
 
 
 
== Examples of right and wrong sentences ==
 
 
 
<div class="liju">
 
<ul>
 
<li class="x"><em>因为</em> 让 妹妹 上 学,他 出去 打工。</li><span class="expl">"Because" doesn't make sense in this sentence.</span>
 
<li class="o"><em>为了</em> 让 妹妹 上 学,他 出去 打工。</li><span class="expl">为了 means "in order to"</span>
 
<li class="x"><em>为了</em> 今天 要 下 雨,我 带 了 一 把 雨伞。</li><span class="expl">"In order to" doesn't make sense in this sentence.</span>
 
<li class="o"><em>因为</em> 今天 要 下 雨,(所以) 我 带 了 一 把 雨伞。</li><span class="expl">因为 means "Because"</span>
 
</ul>
 
</div>
 
 
 
== Example dialog ==
 
 
 
<div class="liju">
 
* A: 你 为什么 来 上海?<span class="trans">Why did you come to Shanghai?</span>
 
* B: <em>因为</em> 我 在 这里 工作。<span class="trans">Because I work here.</span>
 
* A: 你 为什么 不 在 美国 工作?<span class="trans">Why don't you work in the USA?</span>
 
* B: <em>为了</em> 我 的 太太。她 是 上海 人。<span class="trans">For my wife. She's Shanghainese.</span>
 
</div>
 
 
 
==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)[http://www.amazon.cn/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E5%85%AB%E7%99%BE%E8%AF%8D/dp/B004323J90/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345693275&sr=8-1 →buy]
 
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1]] (pp. 347-8) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276792/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276792 →buy]
 
 
 
 
 
[[Category:grammar comparison]]
 
{{Basic Grammar|为了|B1|为了 vs 因为| <em>为了</em> 能 学 好 中文,他 来 到 了 中国。|grammar point|ASGMEC1P}}
 
{{Rel char|因为}}
 
{{Used for|Expressing desires}}
 
{{Used for|Indicating cause and effect}}
 
{{Translation|to}}
 
{{Translation|because}}
 
{{Comparison|Conjunctions}}
 

Latest revision as of 04:54, 22 January 2018