3 · Linking clauses, first steps
In order to, for the sake of: -기 위해서
purpose and benefit
-기 위해서 gives the purpose of an action; after a noun, 을/를 위해서 says for whose sake or for what it is done.
At a glance
- Remember
- Gi wihaeseo: the purpose, stated on purpose — and advice may follow.
- Form
- 배우다 → 배우기 위해서after a verb
- Signal words
- -기 위해서
- 을/를 위해서
- 위한
- -기 위해
- Trap
- Wrong:살을 빼려고 매일 걸으세요.Right:살을 빼기 위해서 매일 걸으세요.
Your turn
10 exercises on this topic. Your answers are checked in the browser; none of them leaves your device.
The form
| after a verb | 배우다 → 배우기 위해서 |
| after a noun | 가족 → 가족을 위해서 |
| short form | 배우기 위해 |
| before a noun | 외국인을 위한 수업 |
| an adjective, through -아/어지다 | 건강해지기 위해서 |
The rules one by one
The form this topic is about
-기 위해서 gives the purpose of the action that follows.
한국 회사에 취직하기 위해서 한국어를 배워요.I am learning Korean to get a job at a Korean company.
After a noun, 을/를 위해서 says for whose sake something is done.
부모님은 아이들을 위해서 열심히 일하세요.The parents work hard for their children.
It can be followed by a request or a suggestion.
살을 빼기 위해서 매일 걸으세요.Walk every day to lose weight.
Before a noun, it takes the form 위한.
어린이를 위한 책을 찾고 있어요.I'm looking for a book for children.
Example sentences
비행기 표를 사기 위해서 돈을 모으고 있어요.I am saving up to buy a plane ticket.
건강을 위해서 담배를 끊었어요.I gave up smoking for the sake of my health.
좋은 자리에 앉기 위해서 일찍 갔어요.We went early to get good seats.
환경을 위해서 일회용 컵을 쓰지 마세요.For the sake of the environment, don't use disposable cups.
이 프로그램은 초보자를 위한 거예요.This programme is for beginners.
시험에 합격하기 위해 밤늦게까지 공부했어요.I studied late into the night to pass the exam.
8 more example sentences
새 집을 사기 위해서 대출을 받았어요.I took out a loan to buy a new house.
아이를 위해서 일을 줄였어요.I cut down on work for the sake of my child.
발음을 연습하기 위해서 매일 소리 내어 읽어요.I read aloud every day to practise my pronunciation.
손님을 위한 자리가 준비되어 있어요.Seats have been set aside for the guests.
늦지 않기 위해서 알람을 두 개 맞췄어요.I set two alarms so as not to be late.
여러분을 위해서 노래를 준비했어요.I have prepared a song for you all.
그 회사는 직원들을 위한 어린이집을 만들었어요.The company set up a nursery for its staff.
건강해지기 위해서 식습관을 바꿨어요.I changed my eating habits to get healthier.
The trap English speakers fall into
Watch out
-(으)려고 reports an intention and cannot be followed by a request or a suggestion. Advice about a purpose needs -기 위해서 — or -(으)려면, “if you want to”: 살을 빼려면 매일 걸으세요.
The full explanation
Read it all · about 1 min
The verb takes -기, which turns it into a noun, and 위해서, “for”, follows: 건강을 지키기 위해서 운동해요, “I exercise to stay healthy”. After a plain noun the same word takes an object particle: 가족을 위해서 일해요, “I work for my family”. The 서 can be dropped: 위해.
It is the most general way to state a purpose, and it sounds more deliberate and a little more formal than -(으)려고. It suits plans, speeches, written texts and explanations: 환경을 보호하기 위해서 플라스틱 사용을 줄여야 해요.
Unlike -(으)려고, it can be followed by a request or a suggestion: 건강을 지키기 위해서 매일 걸으세요. Unlike -(으)러, it is not limited to verbs of movement. Both halves are about the same person, and the purpose is an action: an adjective first becomes a verb with -아/어지다, 건강해지기 위해서.
Before a noun it takes the modifier form 위한: 외국인을 위한 한국어 수업, “a Korean class for foreigners”, 시험에 합격하기 위한 방법, “a way to pass the exam”. The verb after the purpose carries all the tense: 합격하기 위해서 열심히 공부했어요.
A closer look
Three ways to say “in order to”
-(으)러 only goes with verbs of movement: 밥 먹으러 가요. -(으)려고 states an intention in conversation: 밥 먹으려고 일찍 왔어요. -기 위해서 names a purpose more formally and is the only one of the three that can be followed by advice.
With a person or a cause as a noun, only 위해서 works: 너를 위해서, “for you”, 나라를 위해서, “for the country”. In a toast, 우리의 건강을 위하여! is the solemn form.
Worth knowing (1)
-
The written form: 위하여
위해서 is the spoken form of the older 위하여, which survives in formal writing, in speeches and in toasts: 모두의 행복을 위하여!.
우리의 우정을 위하여!To our friendship!
How well do you know this topic?
This is filled in automatically after you practise. You can change it here at any time.
Next on the path: 141 · In the middle of: -는 중이다Back to the learning path