〜ために: 'In Order To' and 'For the Sake Of' (Meaning + Examples)
What it means
ために connects two ideas: a goal and the action you take to reach it. Put the purpose first and the action second — "(in order to do A), I do B." With verbs it answers why you do something; with nouns it can mean for whose benefit you do it. A third, less common use marks a cause — something that happened because of a situation.
ヤッタンは日本に行くために、お金をためています。
ヤッタンは にほんに いくために、おかねを ためて います。
Yattan is saving money in order to go to Japan.
試験に合格するために、毎日勉強しています。
しけんに ごうかくするために、まいにち べんきょうして います。
(Yattan) studies every day in order to pass the exam.
モチは家族のために働いています。
モチは かぞくの ために はたらいて います。
Mochi works for the sake of his family.
How to form it
| What comes before | Pattern | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Verb (dictionary form) | 行く + ために | in order to (do) |
| Noun + の | 家族 + のために | for the sake of / for |
| Noun + の (situation) | 雨 + のために | because of (cause) |
Notice the split: a verb attaches directly (行くために), but a noun needs の in between (家族のために). There is no negative or past change on ために itself — you conjugate the main verb at the end of the sentence instead.
Purpose with a verb: "in order to"
For purpose, the verb before ために is a volitional verb — something you can decide to do — and both halves share the same subject. The same person who wants the goal does the action.
ヤッタンの弟は車を買うために、アルバイトを始めました。
ヤッタンの おとうとは くるまを かうために、アルバイトを はじめました。
Yattan's little brother started a part-time job in order to buy a car.
健康のために、毎朝走っています。
けんこうの ために、まいあさ はしって います。
(Yattan) runs every morning for the sake of his health.
健康 is a noun, so it takes のために.
先生に会うために、学校へ早く来ました。
せんせいに あうために、がっこうへ はやく きました。
(Mochi) came to school early in order to meet the teacher.
For the sake of: noun + のために
When the goal is a person, group, or thing rather than an action, use noun + のために. This is the "for the benefit of" meaning — you do something for someone.
このプレゼントはモチのために買いました。
この プレゼントは モチの ために かいました。
I bought this present for Mochi.
ヤッタンは弟のためにケーキを作りました。
ヤッタンは おとうとの ために ケーキを つくりました。
Yattan made a cake for his little brother.
Marking a cause: "because of"
With certain nouns — usually an event or condition outside anyone's control — のために shifts to mean "because of." Here it is no longer a goal but a reason something happened.
雨のために、試合が中止になりました。
あめの ために、しあいが ちゅうしに なりました。
The game was cancelled because of rain.
Cause, not purpose — nobody wants the cancellation.
How do you tell the cause meaning apart from the purpose meaning? Look at the second half. If it describes a deliberate action (働く, 勉強する), it's purpose. If it describes an unplanned result (中止になる, 遅れる), it's cause. In speech, 〜ので or 〜から are more common for everyday reasons; のために for cause sounds a bit formal or written.
ために vs ように
Both can translate as "in order to," but they don't overlap. The choice depends on the verb before them:
- ために takes a volitional verb (one you control) and usually keeps the same subject: 日本語を話すために勉強する ("I study in order to speak Japanese" — I both study and speak).
- ように takes a non-volitional / potential verb (a state or ability) and often has a different subject or no clear actor: 日本語が話せるように勉強する ("I study so that I'll be able to speak Japanese").
A quick test: if you can swap the verb for its potential form, you probably want ように. 子どもがわかるようにゆっくり話す ("speak slowly so the child understands") uses ように because わかる is not something you decide to do. You can read more in our guide to 〜ように.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting の after a noun. It's 家族のために, not 家族ために. Verbs attach directly; nouns need の.
- Using a potential verb with ために. 話せるために is wrong — a potential verb takes ように (話せるように). Use ために only with volitional verbs.
- Mixing subjects with ために. ために expects the same person for both halves. When the subjects differ ("so that the child understands"), switch to ように.
- Conjugating ために. Don't change ために for tense or negative. Conjugate the final verb instead: 行くために勉強した (past), not 行くためにだった.
Quick recap
- Verb (dictionary) + ために = in order to (purpose, volitional, same subject).
- Noun + のために = for the sake of / for someone's benefit.
- Noun + のために can also mean because of (a cause), usually with an unplanned result.
- For a potential/non-volitional verb or a different subject, use ように instead.
Your turn
Choose between ために and のために, and tell purpose from cause.
Start the 5-question drill →Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between ために and ように?
ために takes a volitional verb you control and keeps the same subject: 合格するために勉強する ('study in order to pass'). ように takes a potential or non-volitional verb, often with a different subject: 合格できるように勉強する ('study so I'll be able to pass').
When do I need の before ために?
Add の after a noun: 家族のために, 健康のために. A dictionary-form verb attaches directly with no の: 行くために.
How can ために mean 'because of'?
With a noun describing an event or condition, のために can mark a cause: 雨のために試合が中止になった ('cancelled because of rain'). The second half is an unplanned result, not a deliberate action. In casual speech, ので or から are more common.
Can I use ために with a past-tense verb?
The verb directly before ために stays in dictionary (present) form. Put the tense on the final verb instead: 日本に行くために、お金をためました ('I saved money in order to go to Japan').