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Lv 3Grammar expressionIntermediate · TOPIK II

-기 위해

in order to; for the sake of

Attaches to a verb stem (or a noun with '을/를 위해') to express the purpose or goal for doing something.

Form

Attaches to
Verb, Auxiliary
Other shapes
-기 위해서 · -기 위한 · 을 위해 · 를 위해

Meanings

  1. 1

    An expression used to indicate the intention, which is the goal for doing a certain thing.

    어떤 일을 하는 목적인 의도를 나타내는 표현.

Examples

  • 요즘 부쩍 운동을 열심히 하시네요.

    You've been exercising a lot harder these days.

  • 건강을 유지하기 위해서 운동을 좀 해야겠더라고요.

    I realized I need to exercise a bit in order to stay healthy.

  • 친구를 만나기 위해서 친구네 집 근처로 갔다.

    I went near my friend's house in order to meet him.

  • 저는 한국어를 배우기 위해서 한국에 왔어요.

    I came to Korea in order to learn Korean.

  • 영수는 책을 빌리기 위해서 일주일에 한 번 도서관에 간다.

    Yeongsu goes to the library once a week in order to borrow books.

Examples: 한국어기초사전, CC BY-SA 2.0 KR.

Don’t confuse with

Forms with a close meaning — a favourite source of wrong answers on TOPIK.

Quick check

  1. 1. What does ‘-기 위해’ mean?

  2. 2. Which form means “in order to; for the sake of”?