Purpose & Consequence Clauses: 为的是、以便
为的是 (the aim is) and 以便 (so that) are two connectives that give the purpose of an action. 为的是 comes after the action and states the goal, while 以便 begins a second clause that the first action makes easier.
以便 = 'in order to, so as to' — placed after the first clause, introducing a purpose that the first action facilitates (formal, often practical/procedural):
请大家提前到场，以便准时开始会议。(Please arrive early, so the meeting can start on time.)
Contrast with 为了 (already known): 为了 is preposed (comes first): 为了健康，他每天锻炼。 为的是/以便 are postposed (come after the action).
Common mistake: putting 为了 at the end of a sentence like 为的是 — 为了 must open the sentence, not close it.
Worked examples
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 他每天早起锻炼，为的是保持健康。 | Tā měi tiān zǎo qǐ duàn liàn, wèi de shì bǎo chí jiàn kāng. | He gets up early to exercise every day — the goal is to stay healthy. | 为的是 postposed after the action, stating a general personal goal. |
| 她努力学习，为的是将来能找到一份好工作。 | Tā nǔ lì xué xí, wèi de shì jiāng lái néng zhǎo dào yí fèn hǎo gōng zuò. | She studies hard — the goal is to find a good job in the future. | 为的是 with a more complex future-oriented goal clause. |
| 请大家提前到场，以便准时开始会议。 | Qǐng dà jiā tí qián dào chǎng, yǐ biàn zhǔn shí kāi shǐ huì yì. | Please arrive early, so that the meeting can start on time. | 以便: the first action (arriving early) facilitates the second (starting on time). |
| 为了赶上火车，他很早就出发了；他提前一个小时到车站，以便有充足的时间买票。 | Wèi le gǎn shàng huǒ chē, tā hěn zǎo jiù chū fā le; tā tí qián yí gè xiǎo shí dào chē zhàn, yǐ biàn yǒu chōng zú de shí jiān mǎi piào. | In order to catch the train, he set off very early; he arrived at the station an hour ahead, so as to have plenty of time to buy a ticket. | Contrasts preposed 为了 with postposed 以便 in one passage. |
Word by word
Each word in this pattern on its own: what it does here, the structure, three more examples, and the mistake to avoid.
为的是 (wèi de shì)
Comes after the action and states the goal behind it.
Structure: action，为的是 + goal
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 他周末去做兼职，为的是多攒点钱去旅行。 | Tā zhōu mò qù zuò jiān zhí, wèi de shì duō zǎn diǎn qián qù lǚ xíng. | He works part-time on weekends in order to save money for a trip. |
| 我每天背单词，为的是通过汉语水平考试。 | Wǒ měi tiān bèi dān cí, wèi de shì tōng guò hàn yǔ shuǐ píng kǎo shì. | I memorise words every day in order to pass the Chinese proficiency test. |
| 她搬到学校附近住，为的是节省路上的时间。 | Tā bān dào xué xiào fù jìn zhù, wèi de shì jié shěng lù shàng de shí jiān. | She moved near the school to save time on the way. |
Not: 为的是健康，他每天锻炼。 为的是 comes after the action. To open with the goal, use 为了: 为了健康，他每天锻炼。
以便 (yǐ biàn)
Introduces a purpose that the first clause makes easy to reach, in practical or formal settings.
Structure: action，以便 + purpose
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 请把电话号码留下，以便我们随时联系你。 | Qǐng bǎ diàn huà hào mǎ liú xià, yǐ biàn wǒ men suí shí lián xì nǐ. | Please leave your phone number so that we can contact you at any time. |
| 他把行李提前收拾好，以便明天早上出发。 | Tā bǎ xíng lǐ tí qián shōu shí hǎo, yǐ biàn míng tiān zǎo shàng chū fā. | He packed his luggage in advance so that he can set off tomorrow morning. |
| 我们提前订了位子，以便客人一到就能入座。 | Wǒ men tí qián dìng le wèi zi, yǐ biàn kè rén yí dào jiù néng rù zuò. | We reserved seats in advance so the guests can sit down as soon as they arrive. |
Not: 以便见朋友，我去了北京。 以便 follows the first clause and does not open the sentence. Open with 为了: 为了见朋友，我去了北京。
Compared side by side: 为了 vs 为的是.
What you need first
Every topic in GraphChinese names its own prerequisites, and these are the grammar points this one is built on. If a sentence here will not parse, one of them is why.
What this opens up
These patterns list Purpose & Consequence Clauses among their own prerequisites, so they become readable once this one holds.
Questions about Purpose & Consequence Clauses
What does 目的与因果复句 (Purpose & Consequence Clauses) mean in Chinese?
为的是 (the aim is) and 以便 (so that) are two connectives that give the purpose of an action. 为的是 comes after the action and states the goal, while 以便 begins a second clause that the first action makes easier. It is an HSK 5 grammar point.
How do you use 目的与因果复句 (Purpose & Consequence Clauses) in a sentence?
他每天早起锻炼，为的是保持健康。 — Tā měi tiān zǎo qǐ duàn liàn, wèi de shì bǎo chí jiàn kāng. — He gets up early to exercise every day — the goal is to stay healthy. 为的是 postposed after the action, stating a general personal goal.
What do you need to know before 目的与因果复句 (Purpose & Consequence Clauses)?
Complex Sentences (HSK 5), 由于/因为 (formal) (HSK 4). This pattern is built out of them, so a sentence here that will not parse usually means one of them has not landed yet.
What does 目的与因果复句 (Purpose & Consequence Clauses) lead to?
Multi-Clause Compound Sentences (HSK 5). Each of them names 目的与因果复句 (Purpose & Consequence Clauses) among its own prerequisites.
What is the difference between 为了 and 为的是?
为了 comes first and gives the goal: 为了健康，他每天锻炼. 为的是 comes after the action: 他每天锻炼，为的是健康。
How is 以便 different from 为了?
以便 follows a clause and shows that the first action makes the purpose easy: 请早点来，以便开会。 It fits notices and instructions more than personal goals.
Purpose & Consequence Clauses is one topic of 829. GraphChinese teaches them in prerequisite order, so this pattern reaches you on the day everything it rests on is proven. The whole course, HSK 0 through HSK 6, is $49 once for lifetime access.
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