ため

ため is a grammatical noun with two core meanings: purpose ("for / in order to") and cause ("because of"). The kanji 為(ため) exists but hiragana is standard.

Common patterns

1. Purpose: Noun + のために / Verb dictionary form + ために
2. Cause: Noun + のために / Verb plain past + ために

• 健康(けんこう)のために: for one's health
• 家族(かぞく)のために: for one's family
• ～のためになる: to be beneficial for ~
• ～ためにならない: to not be good for ~

Usage

Context usually makes the meaning clear. With past-tense verbs, ために almost always indicates cause: 遅(おく)れたために (because [someone] was late). With dictionary-form verbs, it indicates purpose: 勉強(べんきょう)するために (in order to study).

Watch out

Cause ため states an objective circumstance and does not lead into a request, invitation, or command. Say 雨(あめ)なので中止(ちゅうし)にしましょう, not 雨(あめ)のために中止(ちゅうし)にしましょう.

Register

ために is slightly formal, and cause ため is common in notices and written announcements. In casual speech, から or ので are more common for expressing cause.