学华语Learn Chinese with BaoOpen the course

冲着…

because of, drawn by; for the sake of (a motive)

Structure
主语 (是) 冲着 吸引人的东西/人 + 动词 (的)

What it means

Names the thing or person that draws someone, or for whose sake something is done: because of, drawn by. 冲 is read chòng here, literally “facing”.

How it is built

Subject +(是)冲着 + attraction + verb(的), most often 是冲着…来的/去的: 客人都是冲着老板的手艺来的 (The customers come for the owner's cooking).

When to use it

Spoken and journalistic; 是冲着…来的 picks out the real motive, often hinting it is not the noblest (他是冲着钱来的). 为了 states a purpose plainly, 因为 gives any cause. Literal sense too: 他冲着我笑了笑.

Watch out

Takes an attractive person or thing, not a clause or event: ✗冲着下雨,比赛取消了 ✓因为下雨,比赛取消了. Read chòng, not chōng.

Examples

不少外地小伙子是冲着上海户口来的。
Plenty of young men from out of town are after a Shanghai hukou.
这家小店一点儿也不起眼,客人都是冲着老板的手艺来的。
The little shop is nothing to look at; the customers come for the owner’s cooking.
冲着你这句话,这个忙我帮定了。
On the strength of what you’ve just said, I’ll help you, no question.
Learn this in Lesson 151 · HSK 7–9: 人民公园相亲角 (The marriage market in People’s Park)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
Open the lesson →

Also in this lesson

← (不)急于 + 动词一个劲儿(地)… →