in order to, for the sake of

Dictionary form or noun plus の before ために expresses purpose with a volitional action: you do A in order to achieve B. The subject of both clauses must be the same. Compare ように, which is used with potential and non-volitional verbs.

Examples

• 日本にほんで働はたらくために、日本語にほんごを勉強べんきょうしています。

  Nihon de hataraku tame ni, nihongo o benkyou shite imasu.

  I am studying Japanese in order to work in Japan.

• 健康けんこうのために、毎日まいにち走はしっています。

  Kenkou no tame ni, mainichi hashitte imasu.

  I run every day for my health.

Vocabulary in these examples

• 働く to work
• 日本語 Japanese language
• 勉強 study
• する to do
• いる to exist (animate); to be
• 健康 health

Related patterns · Purpose and change

• 〜ように（目的） so that, in order that
• 〜ようになる to come to do, to reach the point where
• 〜ようにする to make an effort to, to try to make a habit of