んがため
- 1In order to (achieve) ~, stressing a firm, determined purpose behind an action.Ex. 1
- 2For the purpose of doing ~, stating why people took a deliberate action.Ex. 2
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This is a formal, literary expression found mainly in writing, speeches and formal announcements. It sounds emphatic, conveying strong will or eagerness toward a goal, and is used with deliberate, volitional actions. It is far more elevated than everyday purpose expressions such as ために.
Note that する becomes せんがため, not しんがため.
Do not use んがため in casual conversation; it sounds stiff and archaic.
Learners should attach ん to the ない-form stem (収め, 勝た), not to the dictionary form.
- べくN1「べく」 is also a written-style purpose expression and can often be used interchangeably with 「んがため」. It attaches to the dictionary form, with する becoming 「すべく」 or 「するべく」; its tone is formal, but it lacks the do-anything-it-takes urgency of 「んがため」.
- ためにN3「ために」 is stylistically neutral and can also express a reason. When expressing purpose, it attaches to a verb's dictionary form or to a noun + の. 「んがため」 expresses only purpose, attaches only to verbs, has a strong classical flavor, and conveys stronger determination; replacing it with 「ために」 keeps the meaning but makes the tone flatter.
- にはN3When 「には」 expresses purpose, it attaches to the dictionary form, and the following clause is usually a necessary condition or an evaluation, in a neutral style. With 「んがため」, the following clause is an action taken with every effort, in classical written style, so the two generally cannot be swapped. 「には」 can also attach to nouns to mean 'for...'.
- ように/ようなN3「ように/ような」 mostly expresses metaphor, examples, or 'just as...'. 「ように」 can also express purpose, but it usually attaches to non-volitional verbs such as the potential form and is stylistically neutral, whereas 「んがため」 attaches to volitional verbs and is written-style with stronger determination.
べく is also a literary purpose expression, but it attaches to the dictionary form (する → すべく) and sounds less emphatic. ために is the neutral everyday form. には means 'in order to ~ (one needs/it is necessary to)' and is followed by a requirement or evaluation. ように expresses purpose with non-volitional, potential or negative verbs.
