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

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    Formal

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.

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. '

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      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

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