When learning the Chinese language, it is important to understand the various prepositions used to express different purposes or intentions. Prepositions of purpose help convey the reason behind an action or the intended goal of a particular activity. In this guide, we will explore some commonly used prepositions of purpose in Chinese, providing example sentences to illustrate their usage and help beginners gain a better understanding.
为了 (wèi le)
The preposition 为了 is one of the most frequently used expressions of purpose in Chinese. It is translated as “for” or “in order to” in English and is often followed by a verb or a noun phrase.
Example sentences:
我学习中文为了能够和中国朋友交流。(Wǒ xuéxí zhōngwén wèile nénggòu hé zhōngguó péngyǒu jiāoliú.)
Translation: I study Chinese in order to be able to communicate with my Chinese friends.
她早起为了赶上火车。(Tā zǎo qǐ wèile gǎn shàng huǒchē.)
Translation: She wakes up early in order to catch the train.
以便 (yǐ biàn)
The preposition 以便 is similar to 为了 and is also used to express purpose. It can be translated as “so that” or “in order to” in English and is often followed by a verb or a noun phrase.
Example sentences:
我会带上地图以便找到目的地。(Wǒ huì dài shàng dìtú yǐbiàn zhǎodào mùdìdì.)
Translation: I will bring a map so that I can find the destination.
请将报告提前发送给我，以便我能在会议上做准备。(Qǐng jiāng bàogào tíqián fāsòng gěi wǒ, yǐbiàn wǒ néng zài huìyì shàng zuò zhǔnbèi.)
Translation: Please send the report in advance so that I can prepare for the meeting.
为了…而 (wèi le…ér)
The preposition 为了…而 combines the purpose preposition 为了 with the conjunction 而 (ér), which means “and” or “while.” This structure emphasizes the purpose or goal behind an action.
Example sentences:
为了学好汉语而每天坚持练习是很重要的。(Wèile xué hǎo hànyǔ ér měitiān jiānchí liànxí shì hěn zhòngyào de.)
Translation: It is important to practice Chinese every day in order to learn it well.
为了保护环境而减少塑料袋的使用是我们每个人的责任。(Wèile bǎohù huánjìng ér jiǎnshǎo sùliào dài de shǐyòng shì wǒmen měi gèrén de zérèn.)
Translation: It is everyone’s responsibility to reduce the use of plastic bags in order to protect the environment.
为了…所以 (wèi le…suǒ yǐ)
The preposition 为了…所以 is another construction that expresses purpose and result. It combines 为了 with 所以 (suǒ yǐ), which means “so” or “therefore,” to show the relationship between the intended purpose and the outcome.
Example sentences:
为了保持健康，我每天都运动，所以我很少生病。(Wèile bǎochí jiànkāng, wǒ měitiān dōu yùndòng, suǒyǐ wǒ hěn shǎo shēngbìng.)
Translation: In order to stay healthy, I exercise every day, so I rarely get sick.
为了提高工作效率，我们组织了一次培训会，所以大家都学到了很多新知识。(Wèile tígāo gōngzuò xiàolǜ, wǒmen zǔzhī le yīcì péixùn huì, suǒyǐ dàjiā dōu xué dào le hěnduō xīn zhīshì.)
Translation: In order to improve work efficiency, we organized a training session, so everyone learned a lot of new knowledge.
为了…以至于 (wèi le…yǐ zhì yú)
The preposition 为了…以至于 expresses a purpose that leads to a certain extent or outcome. It combines 为了 with 以至于 (yǐ zhì yú), which means “to the extent that” or “so…that.”
Example sentences:
为了赶上火车，他一路狂奔，以至于气喘吁吁地跑到车站。(Wèile gǎn shàng huǒchē, tā yīlù kuángbēn, yǐzhìyú qìchuǎnxūxū de pǎo dào chēzhàn.)
Translation: In order to catch the train, he ran all the way to the station, so out of breath.
她为了完成项目，每天工作到深夜，以至于经常熬夜。(Tā wèile wánchéng xiàngmù, měitiān gōngzuò dào shēnyè, yǐzhìyú jīngcháng áoyè.)
Translation: In order to complete the project, she works until late at night every day, so she often stays up.
Conclusion
Understanding the prepositions of purpose in Chinese is essential for expressing intentions and goals accurately. The prepositions 为了, 以便, 为了…而, 为了…所以, and 为了…以至于 are commonly used to indicate purpose in Chinese sentences. By practicing these prepositions with example sentences, beginners can improve their language skills and effectively communicate their intentions in Chinese. Remember that regular practice and exposure to authentic Chinese materials will help solidify your understanding and usage of these prepositions of purpose.
Originally posted 2023-07-13 18:03:22.