～べく
in order to (formal)
～べく is a literary purpose connector derived from the classical auxiliary べし. Attached to the dictionary form of a verb, it means “in order to” or “so as to”: the subject takes the action in the main clause to achieve the goal stated before べく.
It is the formal written counterpart of ～ために and you will meet it in news reports, business documents, and formal narration, but rarely in conversation. The subject of the べく clause and the main clause is the same.
Stating a goal in formal writing
The clause before べく names the objective; the main clause describes the concrete step taken toward it. The tone is determined and official.
真相を究明すべく、調査委員会が設置された。
“A committee was set up in order to uncover the truth.”
- 真相（しんそう）= the truth (of a matter)
- を = object marker
- 究明すべく（きゅうめいすべく）= in order to investigate thoroughly
- 調査委員会（ちょうさいいんかい）= investigative committee
- が = subject marker
- 設置された（せっちされた）= was set up
夢を実現すべく、彼は留学を決意した。
“In order to realize his dream, he resolved to study abroad.”
- 夢（ゆめ）= dream
- を = object marker
- 実現すべく（じつげんすべく）= in order to realize
- 彼（かれ）= he
- は = topic marker
- 留学（りゅうがく）= studying abroad
- 決意した（けついした）= resolved
How to form it
Verb dictionary form + べく; with する verbs, する usually contracts to すべく (するべく is also seen).
- 究明する（きゅうめいする）= to investigate → 究明すべく（きゅうめいすべく）= in order to investigate
- 勝つ（かつ）= to win → 勝つべく（かつべく）= in order to win
- 実現する（じつげんする）= to realize → 実現すべく（じつげんすべく）= in order to realize
Key idea
～べく is ために in a suit and tie: a literary “in order to” that frames the main-clause action as a deliberate, determined step toward the stated goal.
Other N1 grammar
Updated .