immersionlog

〜んがため(に)

in order to, for the sake of (strong resolve)

Verb ない-stem + んがため(に・の) (する → せんがため)

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んがため is a literary "in order to" with a sense of fierce determination: 勝たんがために、手段を選ばない, "he'll use any means to win".

It attaches to the ない-stem: 勝つ → 勝た + んがため, 知る → 知ら + んがため, 生きる → 生き + んがため, and する → せんがため.

The ん is the classical volitional む, so it literally means "for the sake of trying to". The purpose is usually serious: to win, to survive, to learn the truth, to realise a dream. The second half is often a desperate or extreme effort.

In everyday language, you'd use ために after the dictionary form (勝つために). Be careful with the shape: after 勝た, only んがため fits.

Examples

  • 夢ゆめを実現じつげんさせんがため、彼かれは必死ひっしに働はたらいた。

    He worked desperately to make his dream come true.

  • 勝かたんがために、手段しゅだんを選えらばない。

    He'll use any means to win.

  • 生いきんがため、彼かれは盗ぬすみを働はたらいた。

    He stole in order to survive.

  • 真実しんじつを知しらんがため、彼かれは調査ちょうさを続つづけた。

    He kept investigating, determined to learn the truth.

  • 合格ごうかくせんがため、毎晩遅まいばんおそくまで勉強べんきょうした。

    To pass, I studied late into the night every night.

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