Sentence PatternsHSK 6
Explaining purpose with "为... 而..."
This pattern indicates purpose or motivation: the reason (goal) is placed after 为 (or 为了), and the action taken for that goal follows 而. It often translates to 'do (action) for the sake of (goal)' or 'do (action) in order to (goal).' The negative form is 不为...而, meaning 'not do something for the sake of...' — do not place 不 before the action verb.
Structure
Subj. + 为 + Goal + 而 + Efforts Made
为 can be replaced with 为了 for a less formal tone
Subj. + 不 + 为 + Goal + 而 + Efforts Made
Examples
- 很多中国父母为孩子而活。Hěn duō zhōng guó fù mǔ wèi hái zi ér huó.Many Chinese parents live for their children.
- 我们为梦想而奋斗。Wǒ men wèi mèng xiǎng ér fèn dòu.We fight for our dreams.
- 你是为钱而工作吗？Nǐ shì wèi qián ér gōng zuò ma?Do you work for money?
- 他为了能去日本而苦学日语。Tā wèi le néng qù rì běn ér kǔ xué rì yǔ.He studied Japanese hard in order to be able to go to Japan.
- 你不为父母而考虑，也要考虑考虑你自己。Nǐ bù wéi fù mǔ ér kǎo lǜ, yě yào kǎo lǜ kǎo lǜ nǐ zì jǐ.You don't consider your parents, but consider yourself.
Words that use this
- 为wéias (in the capacity of); to take sth as; to act as; to serve as; to behave as; to become; to be; to do; by (in the passive voice)
- 为wéias (in the capacity of); to take sth as
- 而érand; as well as; and so; but (not); yet (not); (indicates causal relation); (indicates change of state); (indicates contrast)
- 是shìto be (followed by substantives only); correct; right; true; (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well; (adverb for emphatic assertion)
- 为了wèi lefor; for the purpose of; in order to