Grammar Info

N1 Lesson 6: 4/17

んが為(ため)に

In order to, To, For the purpose of

Exception: する → せん

Structure

Verb［ない］+ ん + が + ため（に）
Verb［ない］+ ん + が + ため + の + Noun

Exceptions:
する ￫ せんがため

Details

  • Register

    Formal

  • 使用域

    硬い

About んがため(に)

んがため is a grammar pattern used when indicating that something is being done 'for the purpose of (A)', or 'with (A) as the goal'. ん comes from an abbreviation of む, which is a classical auxiliary verb used to show intent or strong will in the same way as う and よう in modern Japanese. ん is then followed by が, and the noun ため 'sake', or 'purpose'.
ん connects to the indeterminate form of verbs (ない stem). Either の or に will usually come after んがため, depending on whether it is followed directly by a noun, or a statement linking to a verb.
  • 彼(かれ)は若(わか)い頃(ころ)からお金(かね)を貯(た)めんがために、色々(いろいろ)と我慢(がまん)してきた。
    In order to save up money, he has sacrificed a lot since he was young.
  • 私(わたし)の両親(りょうしん)たちは私(わたし)たちの夢(ゆめ)を叶(かな)えんがために、毎日(まいにち)休(やす)まずに仕事(しごと)をしてきました。
    In order to fulfill our dreams, my parents have worked everyday without any rest.
  • こんなことはしたくないが大会(たいかい)で勝(か)たんがためのことだ。
    I don't want to do such a thing, but in order to win this competition.
  • 売(う)れ残(のこ)りの商品(しょうひん)を売(う)らんがための作戦(さくせん)を考(かんが)えたが何(なに)も思(おも)いつかなかった。
    I tried to come up with a strategy in order to sell the unsold goods, but came up with nothing.
The meaning of む is kept in ん, as this grammar structure will imply the speaker's will to achieve the goal of (A). As む expresses intent, the verb that ん is attached to must be something that can be controlled by the speaker.
Caution
Like most classical structures that interact with する, the more old-fashioned せ will be used as the base, rather than し.
  • 彼女(かのじょ)は自分(じぶん)の作戦(さくせん)を成功(せいこう)させんがために、友達(ともだち)を裏切(うらぎ)った。
    She betrayed her friends in order to make her plans work.

Examples

--:--

    記事(きじ)：「その会社(かいしゃ)は不(ふ)良品(りょうひん)を売(う)らんがために、高齢者(こうれいしゃ)の弱(よわ)みにつけ込(こ)んだ。」

    Article: 'That company took advantage of the elderly in order to sell defective products.'

    ソクラテス「生(い)きんがために食(く)え、食(く)わんがために生(い)きるな」

    Socrates: 'Thou shouldst eat to live; not live to eat.' (for the purpose of)

    小説(しょうせつ)：「力(ちから)の指輪(ゆびわ)を得(え)んがための戦争(せんそう)が始(はじ)まった。」

    Novel: 'The war for the purpose of acquiring the ring of power has begun.'

    小説(しょうせつ)：「魔王(まおう)の軍(ぐん)よりこの世界(せかい)を救(すく)わんがためにドワーフと人間(にんげん)とエルフとの協力(きょうりょく)が必要(ひつよう)である。」

    Novel: 'The cooperation of dwarves, humans, and elves is needed in order to save the world from the army of the Demon King.'

    時代(じだい)小説(しょうせつ)、A：「我々(われわれ)が失敗(しっぱい)したら？」
    B：「そうなれば、みずからの身(み)を守(まも)らんがため退却(たいきゃく)を余儀(よぎ)なくされるときがくるかもしれぬ。」

    A historical novel, A: 'And what if we fail?'
    B: 'If that happens, the time may come when we will be forced to retreat in order to protect ourselves. '

  • Get more example sentences!

    Premium users get access to 12 example sentences on all Grammar Points.

Self-Study Sentences

Study your own way!

Add sentences and study them alongside Bunpro sentences.

んがため(に) – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (4 in total)

  • JSBeck

    JSBeck

    I am little confused about this sentence.
    僕はこの世に何かをなさんがために生まれてきたはずだが、それが何かはまだ分からない。
    I thought that the nai form of 為さる was 為さらない and hence it would be 為さらん. Is this a special case?

  • nekoyama

    nekoyama

    為す

  • JSBeck

    JSBeck

    ah of course, that makes a lot more sense. I was just blindly following the prompt word of 為さる, that was with the sentence. thanks Neko

Got questions about んがため(に)? Join us to discuss, ask, and learn together!

Join the Discussion