べくin order to (formal)
The ために of formal writing: "in order to". It gives the aim of something done on purpose, in news reports and in official and company statements. Aloud it belongs to speeches; in conversation people say ために.
The government established an expert panel in order to rebuild regional medical services.
All of us at the company will do our utmost to live up to your expectations.
How to form it
Verb in the dictionary form + べく
する gives すべく or するべく; すべく is the more formal.
- Before it
- Something a person or an organization sets out to do. Not a negative or a "can" form: those take ように.
- After it
- What that same person or organization did, or pledges to do.
- Where you'll meet it
- News, official notices, company statements, business letters, narration.
In use
The city introduced a satellite link in order to secure a means of communication during disasters.
確保する → 確保すべく.
The two countries resumed informal talks in order to ease tensions.
She traveled from archive to archive in order to find the lost records.
Two things to know
What follows is the act itself
After べく the sentence says what someone does. A direct order or request doesn't follow it: no なさい, no てください.
Not said: 試験に
(Study every day in order to pass the exam.)
合格するために、毎日勉強しなさい.
With an errand, it is a joke
Sounds odd: 牛乳を
I set out for the convenience store in order to procure milk.
An errand told as a mission. Plainly, 牛乳を買いにコンビニへ行った.
The other べ forms
All come from べし, the old word behind べきだ. Each means something different.
べくしてN1
"As was bound to", with the same verb before and after it.
After all her training and preparation, she won, as she was bound to.
べくもないN1
"No way to", after a few verbs such as 望む and 知る.
As things stand, total victory is out of the question.
"Must not", on old signs and in maxims; べからざる before a noun.
Do not enter beyond this gate.
べきだN3
"Should": the everyday one, which you already know.
Experts should honestly admit what they don't know.
Close neighbours
ためにN4
What people say, and what most writing uses too.
I study Japanese every day in order to study abroad.
んがため（に）N1
The same aim in grand, literary dress, for causes and struggles. Its ん is not a negative.
To win independence for their homeland, they threw themselves into a long struggle.
Check yourself
1Which one is right?
市は
Choose an answer to see why.
2Which sentence is right?
Choose an answer to see why.
More sentences
The research team reviewed the device's design in order to reduce measurement error.
The committee announced a policy of disclosing the review process in order to improve the system's transparency.
The rescue team chose another mountain route in order to reach the isolated settlement.
The university expanded its public courses in order to give the benefits of its research back to society.