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← All Lessons 26–50

Minna no Nihongo - Lesson 42

Complete Grammar Guide

Purpose, use and value: ～ために, V dictionary + のに, N + に for purpose, quantifier + は, quantifier + も, and the important differences between ために and ように.

Lesson 42 in one sentence: this lesson teaches you how to explain purpose, what something is used for, and how to emphasize that a required quantity is at least this much or as much as this.

Lesson 42 at a glance

1. ～ために

In order to achieve a deliberate goal.

2. Vるのに

For doing something / useful for doing something.

3. Quantity + は

At least this amount is needed.

4. Quantity + も

As much/many as this amount.

1. ～ために — “in order to / for the sake of”

Volitional Verb (dictionary form) + ために + action

～ために is used when a person performs an action with a clear goal or purpose in mind.

One way to think about it: Think of ために as: “I want to achieve Goal A, so I intentionally do Action B.” Both parts normally involve a deliberate choice or intention.
Goal: A
Action done to reach that goal: B
Aために、B。

Example 1 — Saving money for a shop

Jibun no mise o motsu tame ni, chokin shite imasu.

I am saving money in order to have my own shop.

Example 2 — Attending a wedding

Erizabesu-san no kekkonshiki ni deru tame ni, yasumi o torimashita.

I took leave in order to attend Elizabeth's wedding.

Example 3 — Becoming a lawyer

Bengoshi ni naru tame ni, hōritsu o benkyō suru tsumori desu.

I intend to study law in order to become a lawyer.

Example 4 — Entering graduate school

Daigakuin ni hairu tame ni, kaisha o yameyō to omotte imasu.

I'm thinking of quitting my job in order to enter graduate school.

Noun + のために

Noun + の + ために

With nouns, ために can mean for, for the sake of, for the benefit of.

I study Japanese every week for my work.

I will study in America for research into international issues.

I plan to buy an electronic dictionary for my Japanese studies.

I have to save a lot for my children's education.

Real-life examples of ～ために

I study kanji every day in order to pass JLPT N3.

I walk for 30 minutes every morning for my health.

I took vacation time in order to travel with my family.

2. ～ために vs ～ように

This is the most important comparison in Lesson 42. Both expressions can be translated as “in order to”, but Japanese uses them differently.

～ために ～ように
Main idea Direct intentional goal Desired result / state
Verb type Volitional verbs Potential, non-volitional, stative, negative
Nouns Yes: Nのために No direct Nように pattern for this purpose meaning
Negative goal Normally not used Common: Vないように
Speaker feeling Direct intention / purpose Trying to make a result possible
Simple memory rule:
If you can directly control the goal action, ために is often natural.
If the goal is “to be able to,” “so that something happens,” “so that something does not happen,” or otherwise not fully under your control, use ように.

Example: having your own shop

I am saving money in order to have my own shop. The goal is presented as a deliberate objective.

I am saving money so that I can have my own shop. The focus is on making the state/ability possible.

Example: speaking Japanese well

I study every day in order to speak Japanese well.

I study every day so that I can speak Japanese well.

In natural Japanese, the second sentence with 話せるように is especially common because “being able to speak well” is naturally expressed as an ability.

ように with non-volitional, stative, potential, and negative verbs

Potential

I practice so that I can speak Japanese.

Non-volitional result

I will send it by express mail so that it arrives quickly.

Stative verb

I sit in front so that I can see well.

Negative

I make a note so that I don't forget.

Common mistake: do not automatically replace every English “in order to” with ために. Japanese first considers whether the goal itself is an intentional action or a desired result/state.

3. Verb dictionary form + のに — “for doing / in order to use for”

Verb dictionary form + のに + useful / convenient / necessary / takes time / use

Here, の nominalizes the verb: it turns an action into a noun-like idea. Then に marks its purpose.

Important: this ～のに does not mean “although.” Lesson 42 uses V dictionary + のに to mean “for doing V / for the purpose of V.”

It commonly appears with words such as:

Expression Meaning
use
be useful
be convenient
be necessary
take time
be good/suitable

Examples

Kettle

Yakan wa oyu o wakasu no ni tsukaimasu.

A kettle is used for boiling water.

Thermometer

A thermometer is convenient for measuring body temperature.

Furoshiki

A furoshiki is useful for wrapping things.

Abacus

It takes time to calculate using an abacus.

Real-life examples

This app is convenient for studying Japanese.

This dictionary is useful for looking up kanji.

This bag is just right for traveling.

4. Noun + に — “for / for the purpose of”

Noun + に + useful / convenient / necessary / use

When the purpose is already expressed as a noun, you can use N + に.

This large supermarket is convenient for shopping.

This light coat is convenient for travel.

Compare:
= convenient for travel.
= convenient for traveling.

5. Review: the main ways to express purpose

Minna no Nihongo introduces several different purpose expressions. They are not interchangeable in every sentence.

Pattern Main meaning Typical use
Vます-stem + に + 行く/来る/帰る Go/come/return in order to do V Purpose of movement
V dictionary / Vない + ように So that / in order that Potential, non-volitional, state, negative
V dictionary + ために In order to Intentional goal
N + のために For / for the sake of Benefit, purpose, goal
V dictionary + のに For doing V Usefulness, convenience, necessity, time
N + に For N Usefulness, convenience, suitability

Compare all four with natural examples

I am going to America to study English. purpose of movement

I practice every day so that I can speak English. ability/result

I study at university in order to become an English teacher. intentional goal

This website is convenient for studying English. function/usefulness

6. Quantifier + は — “at least this much”

Quantity + は + predicate

When は follows a quantity, it can indicate that this is the minimum amount, time, cost, number, or degree expected/required.

A useful English feeling is: “at least...” or “you need no less than...”

Money required

At least 40 million yen is needed to build a house.

Time required

It takes at least three years to learn 2,000 kanji.

Monthly living cost

It costs at least 200,000 yen a month to live alone in Tokyo.

Real-life nuance: The exact number is context-dependent. The grammar point is the use of は to mark a lower-limit expectation, not the factual accuracy of the amount itself.

7. Quantifier + も — “as much/many as...”

Quantity + も + predicate

When も follows a quantity, the speaker emphasizes that the amount feels large, surprising, more than expected, or noteworthy.

Useful English translations include: “as much as...”, “as many as...”, or “as long as...”.

Does it really take as much as 40 million yen to build a house?

Does it take as long as three years to learn the kanji?

It costs as much as 200,000 yen per month to live alone in Tokyo.

Quantity + は vs Quantity + も

Pattern Speaker's feeling Natural English
3年ねんはかかります 3 years is the minimum expected It takes at least three years.
3年ねんもかかります 3 years feels like a lot It takes as long as three years.
Memory rule:
は after quantity → lower limit / at least.
も after quantity → surprisingly large amount.

8. More real-life examples

Studying Japanese

I study Japanese in order to work in Japan.

I practice conversation every day so that I can speak Japanese naturally.

Work

This software is convenient for managing sales.

This feature is useful for checking data.

Travel

I bought a new suitcase for my trip.

This suitcase is convenient for long trips.

9. Common mistakes

Mistake 1: using ために with a potential verb
If the goal is “so that I can do X,” use ように.
Better:
Mistake 2: using ために for a negative purpose
For “so that I don't forget,” use:
Mistake 3: confusing purpose のに with contrast のに

Here のに means “for cutting.”
Mistake 4: thinking quantity + は is just the normal topic marker
In Lesson 42, after a quantity, は often adds the sense of “at least this amount.”
Mistake 5: thinking quantity + も simply means “also”
After a quantity, も often emphasizes that the amount is unexpectedly large.

10. Quick cheat sheet

Grammar Meaning Example
Vるために in order to do V
Nのために for / for the sake of N
Vるように so that V happens / becomes possible
Vないように so that V does not happen
Vるのに for doing V
Nに for N / suitable for N
Quantity + は at least this much
Quantity + も as much/many/long as

11. Practice

A. Choose ために or ように

  1. ように — potential verb
  2. ために — deliberate goal
  3. ように — negative goal

B. Complete with のに or に

Sample answers — other completions that fit the situation are also correct.

  1. のに
  2. に
  3. のに

C. Choose は or も

  1. You mean “It takes at least two hours.”
  2. You are surprised that it takes as long as two hours.
  1. は
  2. も

D. Translate into Japanese

  1. I study every day in order to pass the exam.
  2. I make a note so that I don't forget.
  3. This knife is useful for cutting vegetables.
  4. At least one hour is necessary.
  5. Does it really take as long as five years?

Sample answers — other natural wordings are also correct.

12. Final memory rules

Direct intentional goal.

Desired result, ability, non-volitional event, or negative prevention.

For doing V; often used with usefulness, convenience, necessity, or time.

At least this much.

As much/many/long as this — surprisingly large.