Readnihongo app icon

Readnihongo

Read Japanese, beautifully.

N4

Purpose with ために

About 9 minutes · written and reviewed by Haruki Yamamoto

Section 1 of 3

Expressing purpose and goals

ために often connects an action with an important purpose, goal, or benefit. It is common when the goal is bigger than a single short errand and when the writer wants to sound clear and goal-oriented.

  1. Target signal

    日本で働くために、日本語を勉強しています。

    I am studying Japanese in order to work in Japan.

    Longer-term goal or major purpose.

    Vocabulary notes
    しています
    am doing
    ために〜ために
    in order to; for the purpose of
    います
    there is; exists (animate)

  2. Compare in context

    健康のために、毎日歩いています。

    I walk every day for my health.

    Noun + のために can mean 'for the sake of'.

    Vocabulary notes
    ために〜ために
    in order to; for the purpose of
    います
    there is; exists (animate)
    ために
    for; in order to

Section 2 of 3

Verb and noun patterns

Use the dictionary form before ために for actions and noun + のために for purposes linked to a person, group, or benefit. In both cases, the phrase explains why the main action is done.

  1. Target signal

    家族のために働いています。

    I work for my family.

    Purpose attached directly to a dictionary-form verb.

    Vocabulary notes
    ために〜ために
    in order to; for the purpose of
    います
    there is; exists (animate)
    ために
    for; in order to

  2. Preview

    大学に入るために、毎日勉強しています。

    I study every day in order to enter university.

    A standard goal-oriented learner example.

    Vocabulary notes
    しています
    am doing
    ために〜ために
    in order to; for the purpose of
    います
    there is; exists (animate)

Section 3 of 3

Reading nuance: bigger purpose

Compare ために with verb stem + に行く. 買いに行く often means a direct purpose of movement, while ために can express a wider objective or a longer-term goal.

  1. Target signal

    資料を集めるために、図書館へ行った。

    I went to the library in order to gather materials.

    More formal and broad than 買いに行く.

    Vocabulary notes
    ために〜ために
    in order to; for the purpose of
    ために
    for; in order to
    図書館としょかん
    library

  2. Preview

    夢をかなえるために、毎日努力している。

    I work hard every day in order to achieve my dream.

    The purpose is an ongoing dream or objective.

    Vocabulary notes
    ために〜ために
    in order to; for the purpose of
    ている〜ている
    to be doing; to be in a resulting state
    ために
    for; in order to

Reading in context

Read for meaning before checking the answer

Before you read

Read once for the situation. Then notice how Purpose with ために changes the meaning before you check the translation.

日本で働くために、日本語を勉強しています。 健康のために、毎日歩いています。 家族のために働いています。 大学に入るために、毎日勉強しています。 資料を集めるために、図書館へ行った。 夢をかなえるために、毎日努力している。

Show English translation

I am studying Japanese in order to work in Japan. I walk every day for my health. I work for my family. I study every day in order to enter university. I went to the library in order to gather materials. I work hard every day in order to achieve my dream.

Contextual questions

Answer from the passage before you reveal each explanation.

  1. What is the first reading job for this passage?

    • Identify the situation and how Purpose with ために changes it.
    • Translate every word before using context.
    • Ignore the ending because only vocabulary matters.
    • Choose an answer before reading the full passage.
    Check the answer

    Identify the situation and how Purpose with ために changes it.

    The goal is to use the situation first, then confirm the role of Purpose with ために in context.

Guided practice

Apply the lesson in a few different ways

Work through each prompt, then check the explanation before moving on.

Activity 1 of 4Choose the best context

Which sentence uses ために to express a major goal?

Activity 2 of 4Fill the blank

Complete the chunk that carries the lesson meaning (Purpose with ために).

日本で働くために、日本語を勉強＿＿＿。

Activity 3 of 4Put it in order

Put these related examples back into the order used in the lesson.

  1. 1健康のために、毎日歩いています。
  2. 2家族のために働いています。
  3. 3日本で働くために、日本語を勉強しています。
Activity 4 of 4Infer from the passage

What should guide your interpretation of Purpose with ために in the mini-reading?

Mastery check 1/3

Which sentence uses ために to express a major goal?