<p>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!</p> <h2 id="为了">为了</h2> <p>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.</p> <h3 id="structure">Structure</h3> <div class="jiegou"> <p>为了 + Purpose，Subj. + Predicate</p> </div> <div class="jiegou"> <p>Subj. + 为了 + 目的 (+ 而) + Predicate</p> </div> <h3 id="examples">Examples</h3> <div class="liju"> <ul> <li><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></li> <li><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></li> <li><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></li> <li><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></li> </ul> </div> <h2 id="因为">因为</h2> <p>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.</p> <h3 id="structure-1">Structure</h3> <div class="jiegou"> <p>因为 + Reason，所以 + result</p> </div> <h3 id="examples-1">Examples</h3> <div class="liju"> <ul> <li><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></li> <li><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></li> <li><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></li> <li><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></li> </ul> </div> <h2 id="examples-of-right-and-wrong-sentences">Examples of right and wrong sentences</h2> <div class="liju"> <ul> <li><em>因为</em> 让 妹妹 上 学，他 出去 打工。</li> </ul> <p><span class="expl">"Because" doesn't make sense in this sentence.</span></p> <li class="o"> <p><em>为了</em> 让 妹妹 上 学，他 出去 打工。</p> </li> <p><span class="expl">为了 means "in order to"</span></p> <li class="x"> <p><em>为了</em> 今天 要 下 雨，我 带 了 一 把 雨伞。</p> </li> <p><span class="expl">"In order to" doesn't make sense in this sentence.</span></p> <li class="o"> <p><em>因为</em> 今天 要 下 雨，（所以） 我 带 了 一 把 雨伞。</p> </li> <p><span class="expl">因为 means "Because"</span></p> </ul> </div> <h2 id="example-dialog">Example dialog</h2> <div class="liju"> <ul> <li>A: 你 为什么 来 上海？<span class="trans">Why did you come to Shanghai?</span></li> <li>B: <em>因为</em> 我 在 这里 工作。<span class="trans">Because I work here.</span></li> <li>A: 你 为什么 不 在 美国 工作？<span class="trans">Why don't you work in the USA?</span></li> <li>B: <em>为了</em> 我 的 太太。她 是 上海 人。<span class="trans">For my wife. She's Shanghainese.</span></li> </ul> </div> <h2 id="see-also">See Also</h2> <ul> <li><a href="Expressing_purpose_with_"weile"" title="wikilink">Expressing purpose with "weile"</a></li> <li><a href="Explaining_causes_with_"yinwei"" title="wikilink">Explaining causes with "yinwei"</a></li> </ul> <h2 id="sources-and-further-reading">Sources and further reading</h2> <h3 id="books">Books</h3> <ul> <li><a href="现代汉语虚词例释" class="uri" title="wikilink">现代汉语虚词例释</a> (p. 1)<a href="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</a></li> <li><a href="Integrated_Chinese:_Level_2,_Part_1" title="wikilink">Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1</a> (pp. 347-8) <a href="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</a></li> </ul> <p> </p> <p><a href="Category:grammar_comparison" title="wikilink">Category:grammar comparison</a></p>