為了 — Names the goal an action is aimed at; the purpose is stated, then the action taken to reach it.

grammar → 為了

TSUMUGU · TBCL 3 (est.) · 語法

為了 grammar point · tier 1 · purpose 為了 (in order to / for the sake of)

· wèile

Names the goal an action is aimed at; the purpose is stated, then the action taken to reach it.

字源 FORM what the parts do

為, read wèi, turns the doing toward someone or something. A hand (爫) leads an elephant (象) at work, the labour aimed somewhere. 了 follows worn light from liǎo, closing the pair. Together they set a target ahead of the action.

故事 STORY a scene to remember it by

The elephant is harnessed and faced at a far point; everything it hauls is dragged toward that point.

字源記憶法

框 · Frame

為了 [goal], [subject] [action]. — or — [subject] 為了 [goal] [action].

觸 · Trigger

You have a goal in mind and you reach for the action that serves it.

序 · The move

1Name the goal — the thing you want to reach or get.Is it something not yet attained (a goal), not a fact already true (a cause)?

2Put 為了 before the goal.Goal sits right after 為了.

3State the action taken to serve that goal.The action is what you DO; the goal is what you AIM AT.

例 · Examples

1為了for the sake of / in order to賺to earn更多more錢，他打了好幾份several工。

To earn more money, he took on several jobs.

界 · Boundary

因為…所以…

為了 points forward at a goal not yet reached (the reason you act); 因為 points back at a cause already true (the reason something happened). Aim ahead vs fact behind.

為

為 (wèi) alone also means 'for' but reaches for a beneficiary — 為你 'for you'; 為了 reaches for a goal or outcome — 為了健康 'for the sake of health'.

為了他生病了，沒來上班。 ✗ → 因為他生病了，沒來上班。 ✓ (a cause already true takes 因為, not 為了)

他學中文為了。 ✗ → 他為了學中文到臺灣來。 ✓ (為了 leads the goal clause; it does not trail the sentence)

English 'for' covers both purpose and cause, so learners reach for 為了 where a true reason needs 因為.