Japanese Grammar Bank

HOW TO SAY IN ORDER TO IN JAPANESE

Today, we’ll look at 3 ways you can express in order to in Japanese.

Make sure you study those example sentences to get a feel for the nuance difference of each one!

IN ORDER TO IN JAPANESE WITH のために

 のために no tame ni

のために indicates the purpose of an action, similar to “in order to”.

It’s often used when describing someone doing something for a third party, emphasising the reason for doing something.

To use のために, follow this structure:

PATTERN

Purpose/Goal/Person Benefiting + のために + Verb

Examples

Let’s try to translate: “I am studying to pass my Japanese test.”

  • Goal = Pass my Japanese test = 日本語の試験に合格する
  • Verb = Studying = 勉強する
  • Result = 日本語の試験に合格するために勉強します
JAPANESEROMAJIENGLISH
彼は新しい仕事に備えるのために勉強しています。Kare wa atarashii shigoto ni sonaeru no tame ni benkyou shiteimasu.He is studying in order to prepare for his new job.
私たちは環境保護のためにリサイクルを行っています。Watashitachi wa kankyou hogo no tame ni risaikuru o okonatteimasu.We are recycling for the sake of environmental conservation.
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そのプロジェクトは新しいアプリケーションを開発するのために始められました。Sono purojekuto wa atarashii apurikeeshon o kaihatsu suru no tame ni hajimeraremashita.The project was initiated to develop a new application.
彼女は健康を維持するために毎日ジムに行きます。Kanojo wa kenkou o iji suru tame ni mainichi jimu ni ikimasu.She goes to the gym every day to maintain her health.
このイベントは慈善事業のために資金を集めることを目的としています。Kono ibento wa jizen jigyou no tame ni shikin o atsumeru koto o mokuteki to shiteimasu.This event aims to raise funds for charity purposes.
彼は未来のキャリアを築くために大学に進学しました。Kare wa mirai no kyaria o kizuku tame ni daigaku ni shingaku shimashita.He went to college to build his future career.

IN ORDER TO IN JAPANESE WITH のに

のに noni

Just add this after the dictionary form of a verb (the るru form) and it means “in order to”.

This one is more used to describe things that need to happen to achieve something else. This one is a bit confusing at times because のにnoni is also used for the meaning of “although” or “even though”.

One big hint as to which meaning is being used is that for the “in order to” meaning, only the dictionary form can come before it. 

Examples

Naze, karera ha fuyu nanoni oyogu no deshouka? 

ぜ、彼らは冬なのに泳ぐのでしょうか？

If we look at this sentence, we can see there that のに comes after a noun. So, we know it’s the “despite” meaning. Therefore, the translation would be: Why are they swimming despite it being winter?

JAPANESEROMAJIENGLISH
朝早く起きるのにアラームをセットしました。Asa hayaku okiru noni araamu o setto shimashita.I set the alarm to wake up early in the morning.
明日の試験に合格するのに一生懸命勉強しています。Ashita no shiken ni goukaku suru noni isshoukenmei benkyou shiteimasu.I am studying diligently in order to pass tomorrow’s exam.
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彼は健康を維持するのに毎日ジョギングをしています。Kare wa kenkou o iji suru noni mainichi jogingu o shiteimasu.He goes jogging every day to maintain his health.
彼女はお金を貯めるのに節約しています。Kanojo wa okane o tameru noni setsuyaku shiteimasu.She is saving money in order to save.
レストランで美味しい料理を楽しむのに友達と行きました。Resutoran de oishii ryouri o tanoshimu noni tomodachi to ikimashita.I went to a restaurant with friends in order to enjoy delicious food.
新しい言語を学ぶのに言語学校に通っています。Atarashii gengo o manabu noni gengo gakkou ni kayotteimasu.I attend a language school in order to learn a new language.
彼は成功を達成するのに努力しています。Kare wa seikou o tassei suru noni doryoku shiteimasu.He is making an effort in order to achieve success.

IN ORDER TO IN JAPANESE WITH ように

ように youni

This one emphasises the way of achieving a goal.

You just add this to the dictionary form, or ない form of a verb. 

PATTERN

Verb + ように

Examples

If we look at trying to translate this sentence: “I am studying hard to pass my Japanese test.”

  • Goal = Pass my Japanese test
  • = 日本語の試験に合格する
  • Verb = Studying hard
  • = 一生懸命勉強する
  • Result =  日本語の試験に合格するように一生懸命勉強します
JAPANESEROMAJIENGLISH
本を読むように勉強しています。Hon o yomu you ni benkyou shiteimasu.I am studying in order to read books.
朝早く起きるようにアラームをセットしました。Asa hayaku okiru you ni araamu o setto shimashita.I set the alarm to wake up early in the morning.
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japaneseromajienglish
お金を貯めるように予算を立てています。Okane o tameru you ni yosan o tateteimasu.I am budgeting in order to save money.
良い成績を取るように一生懸命勉強しています。Yoi seiseki o toru you ni isshoukenmei benkyou shiteimasu.I am studying hard in order to get good grades.
健康を保つように毎日運動しています。Kenkou o tamotsu you ni mainichi undou shiteimasu.I exercise every day in order to maintain my health.
美味しい料理を作るようにレシピを勉強しています。Oishii ryouri o tsukuru you ni reshipi o benkyou shiteimasu.I am studying recipes in order to cook delicious meals.
仕事を辞めるように辞表を提出しました。Shigoto o yameru you ni jihyou o teishutsu shimashita.I submitted my resignation letter in order to quit my job.
知識を増やすように本を読んでいます。Chishiki o fuyasu you ni hon o yondeimasu.I am reading books in order to expand my knowledge.

SUMMARY

Here is a summary of all that was studied in this lesson:

  • のために is often used to describe someone doing something for a third party.
  • のに is often used to describe what has to happen to meet a goal.
  • ように is often used to describe the effort to achieve something.

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FAQs

How do you say “in order to” in Japanese?

のために indicates the purpose of an action, similar to “in order to”.

It’s often used when describing someone doing something for a third party, emphasising the reason for doing something.

Structure: Purpose/Goal/Person Benefiting + のために + Verb

“I am studying to pass my Japanese test.”

Goal = Pass my Japanese test = 日本語の試験に合格する       

Verb = Studying = 勉強する

Result = 日本語の試験に合格するために勉強します

—

Just add のに (noni) after the dictionary form of a verb (the るru form) and it means “in order to”.

朝早く起きるのにアラームをセットしました。

Asa hayaku okiru noni araamu o setto shimashita.

I set the alarm to wake up early in the morning.

—

ように (you ni) is used to emphasises the way of achieving a goal. Add it toto the dictionary form, or ない form of a verb. 

お金を貯めるように予算を立てています。

Okane o tameru you ni yosan o tateteimasu.

I am budgeting in order to save money.

How to say “although” in Japanese?

The conjunctions けれども (formal) and けど (formal and informal) are like “although” and are used to indicate a contrast between two ideas or situations.

Both けれども and けど can be used in both spoken and written Japanese.

To use けれども and けど you can just add it to verbs and i-adjectives.

HOWEVER || You need to add だ after nouns and na-adjectives before you add it to them.

Example:

雨が降っていたけれども、散歩に行きました。

Ame ga futte ita keredomo, sanpo ni ikimashita.

Although it was raining, I still went for a walk.

How to say “despite” in Japanese?

The conjunction にもかかわらず is like “despite” and is used to indicate a surprising or unexpected situation.

This is a formal and written form of expression. It is commonly used in academic writing, business documents, and official announcements.

For verbs and i-adjectives you can just add this as is.

NOTE || For nouns and na-adjectives you need to add である before adding にもかかわらず.

Example:

彼はお金がないにもかかわらず、旅行に行きたがっています。

Kare wa okane ga nai ni mo kakawarazu, ryokou ni ikitagatte imasu.

Despite having no money, he wants to go on a trip.

How to say “because” in Japanese?

There are 3 ways to say because in Japanese:

There are:

から kara

ので node

なぜなら nazenara

Learn more about because in Japanese.

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