HSK 3
为了……
wèile……
in order to…
Structure
为了 + Purpose/Goal, + Subject + Action
How it works
The word '为了' (wèile) is a preposition used to indicate the purpose or motive behind an action. It is typically used at the beginning of a sentence to introduce the goal before stating the action taken to achieve it.
Examples
为了身体健康，我不喝咖啡。
Wèile shēntǐ jiànkāng, wǒ bù hē kāfēi.
In order to be healthy, I don't drink coffee.
为了买新手机，他每天都加班。
Wèile mǎi xīn shǒujī, tā měitiān dōu jiābān.
In order to buy a new phone, he works overtime every day.
为了参加考试，她复习了三天。
Wèile cānjiā kǎoshì, tā fùxíle sān tiān.
In order to take the exam, she reviewed for three days.
Common mistakes
Placement error: Putting '为了' after the subject (e.g., '我为了健康...') is less common and often sounds unnatural compared to starting the sentence with the purpose clause.
Tip
Think of '为了' as setting the stage. You first explain 'the why,' and then follow up with 'the what.'
More HSK 3 grammar
See 为了…… in real Chinese
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