JLPT N1 reference · Literary and formal patterns

んがため

This literary construction expresses a determined purpose, often one that motivates significant or questionable action.

Core meaning and form

Attach んがため to the ない-stem; する becomes せんがため. Do not confuse purpose んがため with negative ないため or ordinary explanatory ため.

Form: Attach んがため to the ない-stem; する becomes せんがため.
Core use: This literary construction expresses a determined purpose, often one that motivates significant or questionable action.
Context: Do not confuse purpose んがため with negative ないため or ordinary explanatory ため.

夢を実現せんがため、故郷を離れた。Yume o jitsugen sen ga tame, kokyō o hanareta.He left his hometown in order to realize his dream.

勝たんがために手段を選ばなかった。Katan ga tame ni shudan o erabanakatta.To win, they stopped at no means.

国を守らんがために立ち上がった。Kuni o mamoran ga tame ni tachiagatta.They rose in order to defend the country.

Do not select this pattern from an English translation alone; check its attachment and discourse function.
Keep the surrounding sentence in a consistent plain, polite, spoken, or written register.

Attach んがため to the ない-stem; する becomes せんがため.
This literary construction expresses a determined purpose, often one that motivates significant or questionable action.
Do not confuse purpose んがため with negative ないため or ordinary explanatory ため.