connective N3 common casualpolitewritten
ためだ — it is because / it is for ~
ためだ
Builds on ために
Meaning
① it is because: it is because of ~ / the reason is ~ — closes a sentence by naming the cause
② it is for the sake of: it is for the sake of ~ / it's for ~ — closes a sentence by naming the purpose or beneficiary
Key sentence
① it is because
電車が遅れたのは事故のためだ。
The train was late because of an accident.
② it is for the sake of
厳しく言うのは君のためだ。
I'm being strict for your own sake.
Formation
| Attaches to | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun (+の) / Verb (plain) | N + のためだ; V(plain) + ためだ | 病気のためだ / 合格するためだ |
Examples
① it is because
店が閉まっているのは祝日のためだ。
The shop is closed because it's a holiday.
② it is for the sake of
貯金しているのは家を買うためだ。
I'm saving up in order to buy a house.
Easily confused with
からだ Both can close a sentence with 'it's because ~.' ためだ is a touch more formal and written, and uniquely also carries the 'for the sake of' purpose reading, which からだ cannot. 〜ために ために links a reason/purpose into a following clause mid-sentence (合格するために勉強する). ためだ is the sentence-final predicate form — 'it is because / it is for ~.' 〜わけだ ためだ states the cause directly ('it's because of X'). わけだ draws a conclusion that logically follows ('that's why ~ / so it makes sense that ~') — a deduction, not the raw reason.
See ためだ in real sentences
Jengo shows ためだ the way you actually meet it: inside real Japanese sentences, so it sticks instead of staying an abstract rule.
Study it in Jengo