“In order to” in Chinese 2 – wèideshì and wèi… ér

Grammar Point:
為为的是 wèideshì and 為为 wèi…而 ér… both mean “in order to” but differ in usage. 為为的是 wèideshì directly explains purpose and is common in speech. 為为 wèi…而 ér… is more formal, linking cause and effect.

Structure

Statement + 為为的是 wèideshì + Purpose

Used in both spoken and written Chinese, 為的是 wèideshì directly explains the purpose of an action and often appears at the beginning or middle of a sentence.

我wǒ努力nǔlì工作gōngzuò， 為的是wèideshì給gěi家人jiārén更好gènghǎo的de生活shēnghuó我wǒ努力nǔlì工作gōngzuò， 为的是wèideshì给gěi家人jiārén更好gènghǎo的de生活shēnghuó
I work hard in order to give my family a better life.

他tā學習xuéxí中文zhōngwén， 為的是wèideshì將來jiānglái能néng在zài中國Zhōngguó工作gōngzuò他tā学习xuéxí中文zhōngwén， 为的是wèideshì将来jiānglái能néng在zài中国Zhōngguó工作gōngzuò
He studies Chinese in order to work in China in the future.

我wǒ早起zǎoqǐ， 為的是wèideshì不會búhuì遲到chídào我wǒ早起zǎoqǐ， 为的是wèideshì不会búhuì迟到chídào
I wake up early in order not to be late.

我們wǒmen換huàn了le間jiān學校xuéxiào， 為的是wèideshì能néng找到zhǎodào更好gènghǎo的de老師lǎoshī我们wǒmen换huàn了le间jiān学校xuéxiào， 为的是wèideshì能néng找到zhǎodào更好gènghǎo的de老师lǎoshī
We switched schools in order to find a better teacher.

我wǒ努力nǔlì學習xuéxí， 為的是wèideshì考上kǎoshàng好hǎo大學dàxué我wǒ努力nǔlì学习xuéxí， 为的是wèideshì考上kǎoshàng好hǎo大学dàxué
I study hard in order to get into a good university.

他tā加班jiābān， 為的是wèideshì完成wánchéng這個zhège緊急jǐnjí項目xiàngmù他tā加班jiābān， 为的是wèideshì完成wánchéng这个zhège紧急jǐnjí项目xiàngmù
He works overtime in order to finish the urgent project.

為为 wèi + Purpose + 而 ér + Action

More formal and often used in written Chinese, 為 wèi…而 ér… emphasizes the reason or cause for an action. It works well in literature, news, or official speeches.

為wèi和平hépíng而ér戰鬥zhàndòu为wèi和平hépíng而ér战斗zhàndǒu
Fight for peace.

為wèi夢想mèngxiǎng而ér努力nǔlì为wèi夢想mèngxiǎng而ér努力nǔlì
Work hard for your dreams.

為wèi健康jiànkāng而ér戒煙jièyān为wèi健康jiànkāng而ér戒烟jièyān
Quit smoking for the sake of your health.

他tā為wèi國家guójiā而ér奉獻fèngxiàn了le一生yìshēng他tā为wèi国家guójiā而ér奉献fèngxiàn了le一生yìshēng
He dedicated his life to his country.

為wèi達成dáchéng目標mùbiāo而ér不斷búduàn學習xuéxí为wèi达成dáchéng目标mùbiāo而ér不断búduàn学习xuéxí
Keep learning to achieve your goals.

為wèi環保huánbǎo而ér減少jiǎnshǎo塑膠sùjiāo使用shǐyòng为wèi环保huánbǎo而ér减少jiǎnshǎo塑料sùliào使用shǐyòng
Reduce plastic use for the sake of environmental protection.

• “In order to” in Chinese 1 – 為为了 wèile (HSK 3)