Korean Lessons ᚛ Level 4 - Intermediate Korean #1 (Lessons 91 to 120) ᚛ Lesson 112 - Purpose, "in order to" in Korean #2 [-기 위해(서)]

Purpose, "in order to" in Korean #2 [-기 위해(서)]

In this course: 기 위해서

In the previous lesson, we studied the -(으)려고 and -(으)러 structures, but they are not the only way to express a purpose in Korean.

There is a somewhat particular Korean verb that could be translated as "to do an action for the sake of someone / something": the verb 위하다. However, this verb is rarely used on its own; it mainly serves to connect two parts of a sentence in order to indicate the purpose or the reason of an action.

In English, it would be translated as "for", "in order to" or "for the sake of".

After a noun - 위해(서)

After a noun, 위하다 is used with the object particle 을 / 를 as well as the cause suffix -서, both of which are often omitted when speaking. It is possible to indicate the purpose of an action in the following manner:
[Purpose: ... Noun](을/를) 위해(서) [Action]

건강을 위해 담배를 끊으세요.
→ Quit smoking for your health.

전염병 예방을 위해 마스크를 쓰십시오.
→ Please wear a mask to prevent infectious diseases.

비자 발급을 위해 대사관에 다녀왔어.
→ I went to the embassy to get a visa issued.

건강검진을 위해 병원에 갔어요.
→ I went to the hospital for a medical check-up.

When we want to indicate that we are doing an action for someone, the verb 위하다 is also used, in exactly the same way.

오늘 생일인 친구를 위해 선물을 샀어.
→ I bought a gift for my friend whose birthday is today.

상처 받지 마. 너를 위해서 한 말이었어.
→ Don't be hurt. I said it for your own good.

그 부부는 항상 서로를 위해 주면서 잘 살고 있어요.
→ That couple lives happily, always looking out for each other.

After a verb - -기 위해(서)

When the purpose or the reason is an action and we want to use a verb, we use the nominalization suffix -기 together with 위하다 in the following manner:
[Purpose: ... Stem]기 위해(서) [Action]

살을 빼기 위해 매일 아침에 운동을 하고 있어.
→ I exercise every morning in order to lose weight.

꿈을 이루기 위해 열심히 공부할 거예요.
→ I will study hard in order to achieve my dreams.

돈을 벌기 위해서 아르바이트를 해야 해.
→ I have to work a part-time job in order to earn money.

그는 등산을 가기 위해 짐을 챙겼다.
→ He packed his things to go hiking.

악어는 숨을 쉬기 위해 수면 위로 올라옵니다.
→ Crocodiles come up to the surface of the water in order to breathe.

Differences between -(으)려고 and -기 위해(서)

There is a fundamental difference between the -(으)려고 and -기 위해(서) structures.

"To try to" in Korean

Summary table of structure

Exercises

Traveling to South Korea can be an unforgettable experience. But when you don’t speak Korean, everything gets more complicated: ordering in a restaurant or café becomes stressful, you can’t understand signs or directions, asking for help in case of trouble is nearly impossible, and most importantly, you miss out on the very essence of a successful trip to Korea: connecting with the locals.

Since English - Korean machine translators can’t always be trusted (the two languages work in completely different ways), it’s essential to prepare yourself in advance to fully enjoy your trip to South Korea!

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