PM Translation #72: Master Purpose Patterns (Part 2)

🌀 Pearls of Mandarin: Translation #72

Hello Mandarin Enthusiasts! 🌟

In this week’s CGG #73, we looked at different ways to say “so as to avoid” and “with the aim of” in Mandarin. From formal ones like 以便 and 旨在, to casual ones like 省得 and 免得, each one adds a different flavor depending on the situation.

Now it’s your turn to try them out! In today’s PMW exercises, you’ll get to practice these structures through real, practical sentences. This is where grammar turns into confidence.

The more you use these, the more natural they’ll start to feel. So take your time, go through each one, and don’t worry if it doesn’t click right away. Just showing up to practice is already a win.

Recap of CGG #73 lesson

• Using 以免 / 免得 / 省得 (yǐmiǎn / miǎnde / shěngde): Three ways to express “so as to avoid” with different formality levels. 以免 (yǐmiǎn) is formal and written, 免得 (miǎnde) is conversational, and 省得 (shěngde) is very casual, often implying “to save the hassle.”

• Using 以便 (yǐbiàn): A formal conjunction meaning “so that” or “in order that,” perfect for official documents and polite formal speech. Often paired with modal verbs like 能 (néng) or 可以 (kěyǐ).

• Using 以 (yǐ): The ultra-formal, classical version of 以便 (yǐbiàn), used in government documents, legal texts, and literary writing for maximum brevity and elegance.

• Using 以期 (yǐqī): Means “in hopes that” or “with the expectation that,” acknowledging that the desired outcome requires effort and isn’t guaranteed. Common in business and academic contexts.

• Using 为...起见 (wèi...qǐjiàn): Means “for the sake of” and appears in set phrases like 为安全起见 (wèi ānquán qǐjiàn, “for safety’s sake”) when considering particular interests or taking precautions.

• Using 为...而... (wèi...ér...): A classical, literary structure for expressing noble purposes or serious commitments. Perfect for company mottos, political speeches, and passionate declarations of motivation.

• Using 旨在 (zhǐzài): The standard official language meaning “with the aim of” or “designed to,” used to state the purpose of policies, initiatives, or formal programs in news reports and official statements.

Today’s Exercises

Translate these English sentences into Mandarin:

🌱 Easy

1. For safety’s sake, we drive slowly.

2. We study Chinese hard in hopes of being able to work in China in the future.

🌿 Intermediate

2. For environmental protection’s sake, this restaurant no longer uses plastic bags.

3. Eat more—it’s going to be a while before you fall asleep tonight, so this will keep you from getting hungry later.

🌳 Advanced

5. Ancient emperors built the Great Wall to resist foreign invasion.

6. This gene therapy research aims to provide new treatment options for patients with rare genetic diseases.

Take your time, and remember: practicing will help you sound more natural and confident in your Mandarin conversations. You’ve got this! 💫

🌱 Translation #1

For safety’s sake, we drive slowly.

When we want to say “for the sake of” something in Mandarin, we can use either 为了...起见 or 为...起见. Both structures are correct and commonly used. Using 为了 instead of 为 is even more explicit in modern spoken Chinese.

📚 Structure: 为了 + [Concern/Consideration] + 起见 + ，[Precautionary Action]

Let’s break down the translation step by step:

• 为了 (wèile) means “for” or “for the sake of.”

  • Alternatively, 为 (wèi) alone can be used with the same meaning.

• 安全 (ānquán) means “safety.”

• 起见 (qǐjiàn) means “for the sake of” or “considering.”

  • Together with 为了 or 为, this forms the complete expression “for safety’s sake.”

• 我们 (wǒmen) means “we.”

• 慢慢 (mànman) means “slowly.”

  • This reduplication of 慢 (màn, slow) creates an adverbial meaning “slowly.”

• 开 (kāi) here means “to drive.”

• 车 (chē) means “car” or “vehicle.”

Notes

• Both 为了...起见 (wèile...qǐjiàn) and 为...起见 (wèi...qǐjiàn) are correct, with 为了 being slightly more explicit and common in speech.

• 为...起见 appears in many set phrases like 为安全起见 (wèi ānquán qǐjiàn) and 为慎重起见 (wèi shènzhòng qǐjiàn, “to be on the safe side”).

• The reduplication 慢慢 (mànman) softens the meaning and makes the action sound more gradual and careful than simply 慢 (màn).

• This structure is commonly used when explaining precautionary measures or conservative approaches.

Recap

• 为了安全起见，我们慢慢开车。

• 为了 / 安全 / 起见 / ，/ 我们 / 慢慢 / 开 / 车 。

• wèile ānquán qǐjiàn, wǒmen mànman kāi chē.

• For safety’s sake, we drive slowly.

• for / safety / sake / we / slowly / drive / car.

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🌱 Translation #2

We study Chinese hard in hopes of being able to work in China in the future.