ChineseGrammarWiki/ancien/Chinese-Grammar-Wiki/MD/B1.old/Grammar-wiki-B1-136.txt

{{Grammar Box}} 


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}}