JLPT N1 grammar
〜んがため(に) — Meaning & Examples
"In order to (achieve X)" — literary, desperate/all-in purpose. 生きんがために必死で働いた. Built on classical ない-form + ん.
〜んがため(に) — "In Order To (Achieve X)" (Literary Purpose)
んがため(に) is an even more literary purpose marker than べく — "in order to, for the sake of achieving X," built on the classical negative-volitional ん.
Pattern: [verb ない-form, drop ない] + んがため(に)
生きんがために、彼は必死で働いた。
= He worked desperately in order to survive.
夢をかなえんがため、すべてを犠牲にした。
= He sacrificed everything for the sake of realising his dream.
勝たんがための手段を選ばない戦略だった。
= It was a strategy that would use any means necessary in order to win.
Forming it: する → せんがため、来る → 来（こ）んがため、行く → 行かんがため（drop ない from the ない-form, add んがため）.
べく vs んがため(に): べく is common formal purpose ("in order to X, do Y"). んがため(に) is rarer, more dramatic, and carries a sense of desperation or total commitment — often paired with words like 必死で (desperately) or すべてを犠牲にして (sacrificing everything).
Key feeling: All-in determination — nothing else matters except reaching this goal.
Practice questions
Try these 2 questions on 〜んがため(に). Pick an answer in your head, then open “Show answer”.
1. 「生きんがために、彼は必死で働いた。」 means?
- He worked desperately in order to survive
- He refused to work at all
- He worked without any goal
- He stopped working to survive
Show answer
Answer: He worked desperately in order to survive
んがため(に) = in order to (achieve X) — literary, dramatic purpose, often paired with desperation (必死で).
2. How does んがため(に) differ from べく?
- They are identical in tone
- んがため(に) is rarer and more dramatic, often carrying desperation or total commitment; べく is common formal purpose
- べく is only used in questions
- んがため(に) cannot follow verbs
Show answer
Answer: んがため(に) is rarer and more dramatic, often carrying desperation or total commitment; べく is common formal purpose
べく is standard formal purpose; んがため(に) is a more literary, dramatic cousin often paired with 必死で or すべてを犠牲にして.
Practise 〜んがため(に) in the free app
This point is part of the “Duty, Purpose & Left Undone — まじき・べく(べからず)・んがため(に)・ずじまい” lesson in A Star Japanese. Study it with examples, a quiz, flashcards and timed JLPT N1 mock exams. Free on iPhone and Android.
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Related N1 grammar points
From the same lesson: Duty, Purpose & Left Undone — まじき・べく(べからず)・んがため(に)・ずじまい
Frequently asked questions
What does 〜んがため(に) mean?
"In order to (achieve X)" — literary, desperate/all-in purpose. 生きんがために必死で働いた. Built on classical ない-form + ん.
Is 〜んがため(に) on the JLPT N1 test?
〜んがため(に) is taught in the JLPT N1 grammar course in A Star Japanese (lesson “Duty, Purpose & Left Undone — まじき・べく(べからず)・んがため(に)・ずじまい”), so it is a pattern learners at this level are expected to recognise. The JLPT does not publish an official grammar list, so treat this as a study guide rather than an official requirement.
How can I practise 〜んがため(に)?
Open the “Duty, Purpose & Left Undone — まじき・べく(べからず)・んがため(に)・ずじまい” lesson in the free A Star Japanese app for iPhone and Android. It has examples, a quiz after every lesson, flashcards with spaced repetition and timed JLPT N1 mock exams, with no ads.