Japanese ために: purpose and cause

The idea

For a goal, attach ために to a dictionary-form volitional verb, or のために to a noun. The person pursuing the goal normally performs the following action too; 家族のために means for the family’s benefit. For cause, use a plain clause or noun + の: ひいたために and 大雨のために explain actual results. A な-adjective takes な, as in 危険なために.

Examples

• 日本にほんで働はたらくために、日本語にほんごを勉強べんきょうしています。I study Japanese to work in Japan.
• 旅行りょこうのために、お金かねをためています。I save money for a trip.
• 家族かぞくのために、昼ひるご飯はんを作つくりました。I made lunch for my family.
• 大雨おおあめのために、電車でんしゃが遅おくれました。The train was delayed because of heavy rain.
• かぜをひいたために、会議かいぎを休やすみました。Because I caught a cold, I missed the meeting.
• 危険きけんなために、道みちが閉鎖へいさされました。The road was closed because it was dangerous.

Watch out

Do not read a past cause as an intention. Cause ために is relatively formal and often introduces an undesirable result; it does not normally lead to a command or intention. For an uncontrollable goal such as being able to speak, ように is often more natural.

Try it yourself

1. 日本にほんで働はたらく＿＿、日本語にほんごを勉強べんきょうします。

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   ために

   ために — The dictionary form 働く marks the intended goal of studying.

2. 旅行りょこう＿＿ために、お金かねをためます。

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   の

   の — A noun such as 旅行 joins ために with の.

3. かぜをひい＿＿ために、会議かいぎを休やすみました。

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   た

   た — ひいた is the past plain form; the cold is the cause of missing the meeting.

4. 危険きけん＿＿ために、道みちが閉鎖へいさされました。

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   な

   な — The な-adjective 危険 connects to ために with な when giving the cause.

Use it today

Write one sentence about an action you take for a goal and one about an event caused by the weather. Identify the meaning in each.