Meaning
Used to express purpose or reason. It often shows what an action is for.
Formation
- Purpose: dictionary form + ために: 勉強するために
- Noun + の + ために: 健康のために
- Both clauses share one subject and a controllable action; otherwise use ように
When to use it
- Core use
- For, in order to
Example
日本語を勉強するために日本へ行きます
I am going to Japan in order to study Japanese.
Important notes
- Pay attention to the word form before the construction and to the particles around it.
Common mistakes
- Do not translate the pattern word for word; first identify its function in the whole situation.