Expressing Purpose in Mandarin Chinese with 用来 (yòng lái): 'This Knife Is for Cutting Bread'
Learn to express purpose in Mandarin with 用来 (yòng lái) plus a verb, the natural equivalent of English 'for doing something'. Build sentences like 这把刀是用来切面包的 and ask what things are for.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
English often expresses purpose with 'for' plus a noun or an -ing form: 'This knife is for cutting bread.' Mandarin has no direct word-for-word match for this 'for'. Instead, the most common pattern is 用来 (yòng lái), literally 'use to come', placed before a verb. The full frame is A 是用来 + verb + 的 (A shì yòng lái ... de). This lesson teaches that frame, how to ask what something is for, and how to name the person or thing that uses it. All examples use simplified Chinese, pinyin with tone marks, and everyday vocabulary.
By the end, you can…
- say what an object is used for with 是用来 + verb + 的
- ask what something is for using 是用来做什么的
- name the user or tool with 用来给... or 用来...的
- avoid the common error of putting a bare noun after 用来
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
这把刀是用来切面包的。
This knife is for cutting bread.
Zhè bǎ dāo shì yòng lái qiē miànbāo de.
The core pattern: 是用来 + verb phrase + 的. 把 (bǎ) is the measure word for knives.
这个房间是用来做什么的？
What is this room used for?
Zhè ge fángjiān shì yòng lái zuò shénme de?
The standard question. 做什么 (zuò shénme) means 'do what'; the answer supplies a verb phrase.
手机是用来打电话和上网的。
A mobile phone is for making calls and going online.
Shǒujī shì yòng lái dǎ diànhuà hé shàngwǎng de.
Two purposes joined with 和 (hé), 'and'. Keep both verbs before the final 的.
这块布是用来擦桌子的。
This cloth is for wiping the table.
Zhè kuài bù shì yòng lái cā zhuōzi de.
块 (kuài) is the measure word for cloth and flat objects.
筷子是用来吃饭的。
Chopsticks are for eating.
Kuàizi shì yòng lái chīfàn de.
A general statement about a tool. No measure word is needed when speaking about the class of objects.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The frame is: Thing + 是 + 用来 + Verb Phrase + 的. For example, 这把刀是用来切面包的 (Zhè bǎ dāo shì yòng lái qiē miànbāo de) means 'This knife is for cutting bread.' The verb phrase must contain a real verb: 切面包 (qiē miànbāo), 'cut bread'. You can also insert the user with 给 (gěi): 这个杯子是给我喝茶的 (Zhè ge bēizi shì gěi wǒ hē chá de), 'This cup is for me to drink tea.' Without 给, the sentence simply states the object's purpose.
When to use it
Use 是用来...的 when you explain the function of a tool, room, app, or object, and when you ask what something is for. It answers questions like 这是做什么的？(Zhè shì zuò shénme de?), 'What is this for?' Do not use it for a person's intention or a future plan; that uses 要 (yào) or 为了 (wèile). Compare: 我要去买菜 (Wǒ yào qù mǎi cài), 'I am going to buy groceries', versus 这个篮子是用来买菜的 (Zhè ge lánzi shì yòng lái mǎi cài de), 'This basket is for buying groceries.'
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
这个房间是用来做什么的？
What is this room used for?Zhè ge fángjiān shì yòng lái zuò shénme de?这个房间是用来放书的。
This room is for storing books.Zhè ge fángjiān shì yòng lái fàng shū de.那把刀呢？是用来切水果的吗？
And that knife? Is it for cutting fruit?Nà bǎ dāo ne? Shì yòng lái qiē shuǐguǒ de ma?不是，那把刀是切面包的。
No, that knife is for cutting bread.Bú shì, nà bǎ dāo shì qiē miànbāo de.A little context goes a long way
In everyday Mandarin, the 是...的 frame often wraps around 用来, and the final 的 is required in careful speech. In fast casual conversation, speakers may shorten 是用来切面包的 to 用来切面包的, dropping 是, but beginners should keep the full frame until it feels automatic. When asking about purpose politely, 是用来做什么的？ is neutral and safe in shops, offices, and classrooms.
One thing to watch for
Putting a bare noun after 用来, as in 这把刀是用来面包的 (Zhè bǎ dāo shì yòng lái miànbāo de).
Try this instead: 用来 must be followed by a verb phrase, not a noun. Say 这把刀是用来切面包的 (Zhè bǎ dāo shì yòng lái qiē miànbāo de), adding the verb 切 (qiē), 'to cut'. If you only want to name a purpose noun, use 为了 (wèile) instead, as in 为了健康 (wèile jiànkāng), 'for health'.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1Translate: 'This computer is for studying Chinese.'
Show a sample answer
这台电脑是用来学中文的。 (Zhè tái diànnǎo shì yòng lái xué Zhōngwén de.)
The frame 是用来 + verb phrase + 的 fits perfectly. 台 (tái) is the measure word for computers and machines. 学中文 (xué Zhōngwén) is the verb phrase.
2Ask what a key is for in Mandarin.
Show a sample answer
这把钥匙是用来做什么的？ (Zhè bǎ yàoshi shì yòng lái zuò shénme de?)
The question word 什么 (shénme) replaces the purpose verb phrase, and 做 (zuò) keeps the verb slot filled. 把 (bǎ) is the measure word for keys.
3Correct this sentence: 这个杯子是用来茶。 (Zhè ge bēizi shì yòng lái chá.)
Show a sample answer
这个杯子是用来喝茶的。 (Zhè ge bēizi shì yòng lái hē chá de.)
用来 needs a verb, so add 喝 (hē), 'to drink', and keep the final 的. If the speaker meant 'for me to drink tea', 这个杯子是给我喝茶的 is also correct.
To express purpose with an object in Mandarin, use Thing + 是 + 用来 + Verb Phrase + 的, and remember that 用来 must be followed by a verb, never a bare noun.
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