In Japanese, the phrase ために[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.”
留学するために、お金をためています。
Ryūgaku suru tame ni, okane o tamete imasu.
In order to study abroad, I’m saving money.
However, there are other expressions to indicate the purpose or goal of an action too, like に行く[ni iku], に[ni], and ように[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!
The most common way to mark the purpose or goal of an action in Japanese is to use the phrase ために[tame ni]. This phrase is made up of the ため[tame], meaning “benefit” or “usefulness”, followed by the particle に[ni], so its literal meaning is something like “towards the benefit.”
When the goal of an action is another , as in “in order to see better”, ために will follow the dictionary form.
Verb (dictionary form)
purpose
ために
tame ni
留学するために、お金をためています。
Ryūgaku suru tame ni, okane o tamete imasu.
In order to study abroad, I’m saving money.
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[no].
Noun
purpose
の
no
ために
tame ni
パーティのために、ドレスを買いました。
Pātī no tame ni, doresu o kaimashita.
For the party, I bought a dress.
Did you notice that in the examples above, the goal or purpose comes first? The purpose should always come first in Japanese. You can’t put the goal or purpose second like you can in English!
Purpose
ために
Main Situation
❌ ドレスを買いました、パーティのために。
Doresu o kaimashita, pātī no tame ni.
lit. I bought a dress for the party.
You can use ための[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[ni] with の[no] and place the purpose phrase before the noun whose purpose you’re describing.
Purpose
ための
tame no
Noun
きのう勉強するための机を買った。
Kinō benkyō suru tame no tsukue o katta.
Yesterday, I bought a desk to study on.
ここは、休憩のためのスペースです。
Koko wa, kyūkei no tame no supēsu desu.
This is a space for rest.
Remember that when you use の[no] after ため[tame], you’re always describing the purpose of a noun, not of an action! Notice this slight difference:
パーティのためにドレスを買いました。
Pātī no tame ni doresu o kaimashita.
I bought a dress for the party.
パーティのためのドレスを買いました。
Pātī no tame no doresu o kaimashita.
I bought a dress for the party.
When you want to ask about the purpose, you can use the question word 何[nan](what). It functions as a noun, and so it’s followed by の[no].
This is followed either by ために[tame ni], if you’re asking about the purpose of an action…
何のために、お金をためているんですか。
Nan no tame ni, okane o tamete iru n desu ka?
What are you saving money for?
…or ための[tame no], if you’re asking about the purpose of a thing.
ここは、何のためのスペースですか。
Koko wa, nan no tame no supēsu desu ka?
What is this space for?
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.
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[no].
彼は家族のために、毎日働いている。
Kare wa kazoku no tame ni, mainichi hataraite iru.
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。
Gakkō no tame ni, iroiro na borantia o shite iru.
For the sake of school, I do various volunteer activities.
Sometimes ために[tame ni], or just ため[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[kara] and ので[node].
子供が怪我をしたため、(私は)明日仕事を休みます。
Kodomo ga kega o shita tame, (watashi wa) ashita shigoto o yasumimasu.
Since my child got injured, (I) will take a day off from work.
For more information, please check out our post on expressing causes and reasons in Japanese.
Besides ために, there are three other common ways to indicate purpose:
に[ni], to mark the purpose of a movement verb, like 行く[iku](to go)
に[ni], to mark what you’re using something for
ように[yō ni]
Let’s look at how to use each one and what makes each one different from ために!
When someone moves from one place to another, you can describe the purpose of that movement using に[ni] and a movement verb, usually 行く[iku](to go), in the structure below:
Purpose
polite
に
ni
行く
iku
to go
食べに行く
tabe ni iku
to go to eat
映画を見に行く
eiga o mi ni iku
to go to watch a movie
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
友達の家に映画を見に行きます。
Tomodachi no ie ni eiga o mi ni ikimasu.
I’m going to my friend’s house to watch movies.
Though the movement verb is usually a form of 行く[iku](to go), you can do this with other movement verbs.
家にシャワーを浴びに帰ります。
Ie ni shawā o abi ni kaerimasu.
I’ll return home to take a shower.
Some examples of movement verbs like this might be:
来る[kuru](to come)
帰る[kaeru](to return)
戻る[modoru](to go back)
上がる[agaru](to go up)
下りる[oriru](to go down)
When the purpose of the action is a noun for an action, like 勉強[benkyō](studying) or 買い物[kaimono](shopping), the particle に[ni] can be placed directly after the noun. Compare the action noun to its verbal equivalent:
デパートに買い物に行く。
Depāto ni kaimono ni iku.
I’ll go to the department store for some shopping.
デパートに買い物しに行く。
Depāto ni kaimono shi ni iku.
I’ll go to the department store to do some shopping.
So when should you express the purpose of a movement with just に[ni], as in に行く[ni iku], and when should you mark it with ために[tame ni], as in ために行く[tame ni iku]? Often it doesn’t make much difference, it’s just a matter of preference.
着替えるために帰った。
Kigaeru tame ni kaetta.
I went home to change clothes.
着替えに帰った。
Kigae ni kaetta.
I went home to change clothes.
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。
Resutoran ni ban gohan o tabe ni ikimasu.
I’m going to the restaurant to eat dinner.
🆗 レストランに晩ご飯を食べるために行きます。
Resutoran ni ban gohan o taberu tame ni ikimasu.
I’m going to the restaurant to eat dinner.
ために is preferred when elements come between に and 行く.
When elements such as 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.
✅ 着替えるために、わざわざ帰った。
Kigaeru tame ni, wazawaza kaetta.
I went home specifically to change clothes.
🆗 着替えにわざわざ帰った。
Kigae ni wazawaza kaetta.
I went home specifically to change clothes.
You can also use に[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…”).
このノートは、漢字を書くのに使う。
Kono nōto wa, kanji o kaku no ni tsukau.
I use this notebook for writing Kanji.
折り畳み自転車は、持ち運ぶのに便利だ。
Oritatami jitensha wa, mochi hakobu no ni benri da.
Folding bicycles are convenient to carry around.
運動は、健康にいい。
Undō wa, kenkō ni ii.
Exercise is good for (your) health.
In this use, に[ni] must follow a noun. This means that if the use is a verb, the dictionary form it will need to be followed by the nominalizer の[no].
✅ このノートは、漢字を書くのに使う。
Kono nōto wa, kanji o kaku no ni tsukau.
I use this notebook to write Kanji.
❌ このノートは、漢字を書くに使う。
Kono nōto wa, kanji o kaku ni tsukau.
When should you mark how you’re using an object with ために[tame ni] and when should you just use に[ni]? Just remember these points:
ために[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。
Kankyō o yoku suru tame ni, iroirona koto o shimashita.
To improve the environment, I did various things.
🆗 環境をよくするのに、色々なことをしました。
Kankyō o yoku suru no ni, iroirona koto o shimashita.
I did various things for improving the environment.
に[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。
Kyōto e iku no ni, densha ni norimashita.
I took a train to go to Kyoto.
🆗 京都へ行くために、電車に乗りました。
Kyōto e iku tame ni, densha ni norimashita.
In order to get to Kyoto, I rode on a train.
You should always use に[ni], not ために[tame ni], if the predicate is an adjective of judgement.
✅ この公園はピクニックするのにいい。
Kono kōen wa pikunikku suru no ni ii.
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。
Kono kōen wa pikunikku suru no tame ni ii.
Similarly, you should use に[ni], not ために[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。
Kūkō ni iku no ni, kuruma de ichi-jikan kakarimashita.
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。
Kūkō ni iku tame ni, kuruma de ichi-jikan kakarimashita.
You can use ように[yō ni] to mark the ideal outcome of some action, much like you might use “so that” in English.
いい点が取れるように、たくさん勉強する。
Ii ten ga toreru yō ni, takusan benkyō suru.
I study a lot so that I can get good grades.
The outcome marked by ように[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.
分かるように、説明してくれませんか。
Wakaru yō ni, setsumei shite kuremasen ka.
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.
寝坊しないように、早く寝る。
Nebō shinai yō ni, hayaku neru.
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.
いい点が取れるように、たくさん勉強する。
Ii ten ga toreru yō ni, takusan benkyō suru.
I study a lot so that I can get good grades.
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.
旅行に行けるように、アルバイトをしている。
Ryokō ni ikeru yō ni, arubaito o shite iru.
I am working part-time so that I can go on a trip.
❌ 旅行に行くように、アルバイトをしている。
Ryokō ni iku yō ni, arubaito o shite iru.
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.
✅ 旅行に行くために、アルバイトをしている。
Ryokō ni iku tame ni, arubaito o shite iru.
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。
Min’na ga pāti o tanoshimeru yō ni, (watashi wa) iroirona gēmu o kangaeta.
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。
Min’na ga pāti o tanoshimu tame ni, (watashi wa) iroirona gēmu o kangaeta.
I came up with various games in order to everyone enjoy the party.
We have covered how to express purpose using in Japanese, using ために[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!
