ために

ために, in a way, means 'for', and it is composed of ため, which means 'purpose', 'objective', 'result', and of the particle に, which indicates the direction 'toward that purpose'.

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Verb (dictionary form) + ために

Adjective い + ために

Adjective な (with な) + ために

Noun + の + ために

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ため can also be taken as a noun in its kanji form 為. It means 'purpose', 'objective', 'result'; the particle に indicates the direction (towards the purpose).

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あなたの為を思って言うのよ！

Anata no tame o omotte iu no yo!

I am saying this for your own good.

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ために to indicate a purpose

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ために is used to express a purpose or objective that someone wants to achieve. For this reason, ために must be used with volitional verbs, which express the direct intention to perform a certain action, unlike ように.

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試験のために勉強しています。

Shiken no tame ni benkyou shiteimasu.

To pass the test, I am studying. (In order to pass the test, I am studying.)

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In this example, we see that the action 'to study' is intentionally done by the speaker in order to pass the test. In this case, it shows a goal.

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ために to indicate a cause

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ために can also indicate a cause that led to a certain result. In this case, it will mean 'because of' or 'due to'. In this form, ために can follow past tense verbs.

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Verb (non past tense) + ために

Verb (past tense) + ために

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たくさん雨が降ったために、洪水になりました。

Takusan ame ga futta tame ni, kousui ni narimashita.

Due to heavy rain, there was some flooding.

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In this example, ために indicates the cause; because of the rain falling, it created flooding.

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ため for a goal or objective

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We have to remember that ため without the particle に indicates a goal or an objective ( or a purpose). For this reason, we can find ため with other particles other than に, like:

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ための: ため in this case will modify the noun that follows, 'something for the purpose of...'

ためには: the particle は indicates the topic, this expression translates to 'as for reaching the goal...'

ためにも: similar to the particle は, the particle も indicates 'also for', translated as 'also for', 'also to reach the goal...'

ためにと: と is used to quote something, translated as 'thinking it will lead to', 'thinking for the purpose of...'

ためだけに: the particle だけ, meaning 'only', indicates that something was done only for the sake of the purpose, 'only for the sake of', 'only for the purpose of...'

ためなら: なら is the conditional, with ため it translates as 'if it is for the purpose of', 'if the goal is...'

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これは子共のためのコンピューターです。

Kore wa kodomo no tame no konpyuutaa desu.

This is a computer for children.

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お金のためだけに働きたくない。

Okane no tame dake ni hatarakitakunai.

I don't want to work just for the money.

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彼は出世のためならどんな士事でも引き受ける。

Kare wa shusse no tame nara donna shigoto demo hikiukeru.

If he is going to get a promotion, then he has to take up any job.

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今日はですね、私が熟睡するために、行っている5つの習慣をご紹介したいと思います。

Kyou wa desu ne, watashi ga jukusui suru tame ni, okonatteiru itsutsu no shoukan o goshoukai shitai to omoimasu.

Well, today, I would like to introduce to you 5 habits that I have to get a good night's sleep.