In Japanese, the phrase ために transcribed tame ni is the most common way to say “in order to.” This expression is used to mark the purpose or goal of an action, and so can sometimes receive other translations like “for” or “to.”
However, there are other expressions to indicate the purpose or goal of an action too, like に行く transcribed ni iku, に transcribed ni, and ように transcribed yō ni. In this post, we’ll first introduce you to ために, then go through how and when to use one of other expressions of purpose. Sound good? Let’s dive in!
How to use ために [tame ni] for a purpose or goal?
The most common way to mark the purpose or goal of an action in Japanese is to use the phrase ために transcribed tame ni. This phrase is made up of the noun ため transcribed tame, meaning “benefit” or “usefulness”, followed by the particle に transcribed ni, so its literal meaning is something like “towards the benefit.”
When the goal of an action is another verb, as in “in order to see better”, ために will follow the dictionary form.
Verb (dictionary form)
purpose
If the goal is a noun instead, as in “for a good grade,” you’ll use it after the dictionary form of the noun plus the particle の transcribed no.
Noun
purpose
ための [tame no]: Describing the purpose of a noun
You can use ための transcribed tame no to mark purpose phrases that describe the purpose of a noun rather than an action. The only difference here is that we replace the particle に transcribed ni with の transcribed no and place the purpose phrase before the noun whose purpose you’re describing.
Purpose
Noun
“For what?”: How to ask the purpose of an action or thing?
When you want to ask about the purpose, you can use the question word 何 transcribed nanmeaning what. It functions as a noun, and so it’s followed by の transcribed no.
This is followed either by ために transcribed tame ni, if you’re asking about the purpose of an action…
…or ための transcribed tame no, if you’re asking about the purpose of a thing.
What are some other uses of ために [tame ni]?
Although the primary function of ために is to indicate the purpose of an action, it has two other related functions: to mark a beneficiary or a cause.
Marking a beneficiary
When an individual or organization benefits from an action, it can also be marked with ために. Here, the beneficiary will also be followed by の transcribed no.
beneficiary + の彼は家族のために、毎日働いている。Transcription: Kare wa kazoku no tame ni, mainichi hataraite iru.Translation: He works every day for the sake of his family.学校のために、色々なボランティアをしている。Transcription: Gakkō no tame ni, iroiro na borantia o shite iru.Translation: For the sake of school, I do various volunteer activities.Marking a cause
Sometimes ために transcribed tame ni, or just ため transcribed tame, marks the cause of someone’s action, rather than their purpose. In this case, it is used a lot like the particles から transcribed kara and ので transcribed node.
cause子供が怪我をしたため、(私は)明日仕事を休みます。Transcription: Kodomo ga kega o shita tame, (watashi wa) ashita shigoto o yasumimasu.Translation: Since my child got injured, (I) will take a day off from work.The cause was out of my control, but led to my action.For more information, please check out our post on expressing causes and reasons in Japanese.
What are some other Japanese purpose markers?
Besides ために, there are three other common ways to indicate purpose:
に transcribed ni, to mark the purpose of a movement verb, like 行く transcribed ikumeaning to go
に transcribed ni, to mark what you’re using something for
ように transcribed yō ni
Let’s look at how to use each one and what makes each one different from ために!
に行く [ni iku] for the purpose of a movement
When someone moves from one place to another, you can describe the purpose of that movement using に transcribed ni and a movement verb, usually 行く transcribed ikumeaning to go, in the structure below:
Purpose
polite stem
You can use this to help distinguish between the place you’re going and the purpose of your trip. The destination will generally come before the purpose.
Destination + に / へ
Purpose + に
Movement Verb
に [ni] with other verbs of motion
Though the movement verb is usually a form of 行く transcribed ikumeaning to go, you can do this with other movement verbs.
Some examples of movement verbs like this might be:
来る transcribed kurumeaning to come
帰る transcribed kaerumeaning to return
戻る transcribed modorumeaning to go back
上がる transcribed agarumeaning to go up
下りる transcribed orirumeaning to go down
When the purpose is a noun
When the purpose of the action is a noun for an action, like 勉強 transcribed benkyōmeaning studying or 買い物 transcribed kaimonomeaning shopping, the particle に transcribed ni can be placed directly after the noun. Compare the action noun to its verbal equivalent:
に行く [ni iku] vs. ために行く [tame ni iku]
So when should you express the purpose of a movement with just に transcribed ni, as in に行く transcribed ni iku, and when should you mark it with ために transcribed tame ni, as in ために行く transcribed tame ni iku? Often it doesn’t make much difference, it’s just a matter of preference.
But there are some cases where one is better than the other. Remember these two points:
に行く is preferred when the purpose is obvious.
When the purpose of movement is clear from the destination, に行く sounds more natural.
✅ レストランに晩ご飯を食べに行きます。Transcription: Resutoran ni ban gohan o tabe ni ikimasu.Translation: I’m going to the restaurant to eat dinner.If you’re going to a restaurant, we can guess that you went there to eat.🆗 レストランに晩ご飯を食べるために行きます。Transcription: Resutoran ni ban gohan o taberu tame ni ikimasu.Translation: I’m going to the restaurant to eat dinner.This is not wrong, but it sounds less natural.ために is preferred when elements come between に and 行く.
When elements such as adverbs are inserted before the movement verb, に行く doesn’t sound very natural, so it’s best to use ために in these cases.
adverbmovement verb✅ 着替えるために、わざわざ帰った。Transcription: Kigaeru tame ni, wazawaza kaetta.Translation: I went home specifically to change clothes.🆗 着替えにわざわざ帰った。Transcription: Kigae ni wazawaza kaetta.Translation: I went home specifically to change clothes.Technically, this is acceptable, but it sounds awkward.
に [ni] to mark what you’re using something for
You can also use に transcribed ni after a phrase describing what you’re using something for. Usually, the predicate of these sentences will be either a verb of use (e.g. “it’s used for…”) or an adjective of judgement (e.g. “it’s good/bad for…”).
Marking something’s use with に [ni] vs. ために [tame ni]
When should you mark how you’re using an object with ために transcribed tame ni and when should you just use に transcribed ni? Just remember these points:
ために transcribed tame ni focuses on the end goal or purpose of an action.
✅ 環境をよくするために、色々なことをしました。Transcription: Kankyō o yoku suru tame ni, iroirona koto o shimashita.Translation: To improve the environment, I did various things.Here, you’re describing the purpose of the action.🆗 環境をよくするのに、色々なことをしました。Transcription: Kankyō o yoku suru no ni, iroirona koto o shimashita.Translation: I did various things for improving the environment.Here, you’re describing the purpose of the things, which is awkward in this case.に transcribed ni focuses on describing the purpose of the noun involved, presenting it as a tool or means of completing a goal.
✅ 京都へ行くのに、電車に乗りました。Transcription: Kyōto e iku no ni, densha ni norimashita.Translation: I took a train to go to Kyoto.This is a normal way to describe a means of transport.🆗 京都へ行くために、電車に乗りました。Transcription: Kyōto e iku tame ni, densha ni norimashita.Translation: In order to get to Kyoto, I rode on a train.This is grammatical, but it sounds very purposeful, and would not be a casual way to discuss how you got somewhere.You should always use に transcribed ni, not ために transcribed tame ni, if the predicate is an adjective of judgement.
adjective of judgement✅ この公園はピクニックするのにいい。Transcription: Kono kōen wa pikunikku suru no ni ii.Translation: This park is good for having a picnic.❌ この公園はピクニックするのためにいい。Transcription: Kono kōen wa pikunikku suru no tame ni ii.Similarly, you should use に transcribed ni, not ために transcribed tame ni, when the predicate is a verb that nobody does “on purpose.”
✅ 空港に行くのに、車で１時間かかりました。Transcription: Kūkō ni iku no ni, kuruma de ichi-jikan kakarimashita.Translation: It took me one hour by car to get to the airport.❌ 空港に行くために、車で１時間かかりました。Transcription: Kūkō ni iku tame ni, kuruma de ichi-jikan kakarimashita.かかりました transcribed kakarimashitameaning it took is not an action someone took on purpose in order to complete a goal, so we can’t use ために.
ように [yō ni] for an ideal outcome
You can use ように transcribed yō ni to mark the ideal outcome of some action, much like you might use “so that” in English.
The outcome marked by ように transcribed yō ni should be out of the subject’s control: something that will ideally happen automatically once the main action is completed.
When the ideal outcome is a state that can’t be controlled by anyone, attach ように to the plain form.
plain form分かるように、説明してくれませんか。Transcription: Wakaru yō ni, setsumei shite kuremasen ka.Translation: Can you explain (it) so that I understand?When the ideal outcome is a negative verb, attach ように to the plain negative form.
plain negative form寝坊しないように、早く寝る。Transcription: Nebō shinai yō ni, hayaku neru.Translation: I go to bed early so that I don’t oversleep.When the ideal outcome is an action, you’ll most often attach ように to the plain potential form.
plain potential formいい点が取れるように、たくさん勉強する。Transcription: Ii ten ga toreru yō ni, takusan benkyō suru.Translation: I study a lot so that I can get good grades.
ように [yō ni] vs. ために [tame ni]
The differences between ように and ために are as follows:
Use ように when the ideal outcome is a state, a potential form, or a negative form. You shouldn’t attach this to a plain action verb.
potential form (action verb)旅行に行けるように、アルバイトをしている。Transcription: Ryokō ni ikeru yō ni, arubaito o shite iru.Translation: I am working part-time so that I can go on a trip.plain form (action verb)❌ 旅行に行くように、アルバイトをしている。Transcription: Ryokō ni iku yō ni, arubaito o shite iru.Translation: I am working part-time so that I go on a trip.You can, however, use the plain form of action verbs before ために.
plain form (action verb)✅ 旅行に行くために、アルバイトをしている。Transcription: Ryokō ni iku tame ni, arubaito o shite iru.Translation: I am working part-time in order to go on a trip.You can use ように when the subjects are different.
✅ 皆がパーティを楽しめるように、(私は) 色々なゲームを考えた。Transcription: Min’na ga pāti o tanoshimeru yō ni, (watashi wa) iroirona gēmu o kangaeta.Translation: I came up with various games so that everyone can enjoy the party.When you use ために, the subjects must always be identical.
❌ 皆がパーティを楽しむために、(私は) 色々なゲームを考えた。Transcription: Min’na ga pāti o tanoshimu tame ni, (watashi wa) iroirona gēmu o kangaeta.Translation: I came up with various games in order to everyone enjoy the party.
To sum up
We have covered how to express purpose using in Japanese, using ために transcribed tame ni, or other expressions. Here is a quick summary.
| X ために, Y | X に, + motion verb | X に, Y | X ように, Y | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| X represents… | the purpose of an action | the purpose of a movement | how something is used | an ideal outcome |
| After… | dictionary form of a verb noun + の | -masu stem of a verb action nouns | dictionary of a verb + の noun | plain form of a verb |
| Type of verb in X | action | action | action | stative, potential, or negative verb |
| Subjects in X and Y are… | same | same | same | same or different |
| Notes | Can also be used to mark beneficiaries or reasons. | Don’t usually have other elements between に and 行く. | Y usually has verbs related to use or adjectives related to the speaker’s judgment. | X usually has either a stative verb or a verb in the potential form/negative form. |
Ready to practice what you’ve learned? Check out our Japanese purpose clause exercises to test your skills! Happy learning!
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