ため

See also: だめ

Japanese

Etymology 1

Alternative spellings
為 為め (obsolete)

⟨tame₂⟩ → */taməi̯/ → /tame/

From Old Japanese, attested alongside with older た (ta).

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) ため [tàméꜜ] (Odaka – [2])^[1][2]
• IPA^(key): [ta̠me̞]

Noun

ため • (tame) ^{←ため (tame)?}

1. an advantage, benefit

   為(ため)になる ― tame ni naru ― to be beneficial

   国(こっ)家(か)の為(ため)に死(し)ぬ ― kokka no tame ni shinu ― to die for the benefit of the country

2. a cause, reason

   Synonym: 故 (yue)

   仕(し)事(ごと)を辞(や)めたために、生(せい)活(かつ)が大(たい)変(へん)になってしまった。

   Shigoto o yameta tame ni, seikatsu ga taihen ni natte shimatta.

   Life got tough because I quit my job.

3. an objective, sake

   君(きみ)のために ― kimi no tame ni ― for you; because of you; for your sake

   人(ひと)は食(く)う（が）ために生(い)きるのではなくて、生(い)きる（が）ために食(く)うのだ。

   Hito wa kuu (ga) tame ni ikiru no de wa nakute, ikiru (ga) tame ni kuu no da.

   People do not live to eat but eat to live.

   • 2007 October 20, Izawa, Hiroshi with Yamada, Kotaro, “Chapter 40: The Undying Flame”, in Fire Emblem: Sword of Champions, Jump Remix edition, volume 5, Tokyo: Shueisha, →ISBN, pages 134–135:

     ゼフィール王(おう)　僕(ぼく)は負(ま)けない　祖国(リキア)で僕(ぼく)らの勝(しょう)利(り)を願(ねが)っている人(ひと)達(たち)のために　ともに笑(わら)いともに泣(な)き　ともに戦(たたか)ってきた仲(なか)間(ま)達(たち)のために　命(いのち)を懸(か)けて剣(つるぎ)を託(たく)してくれたアルのために‼

     Zefīru Ō boku wa makenai Rikia de bokura no shōri o negatte iru hito-tachi no tame ni Tomo ni warai tomo ni naki tomo ni tatakatte kita nakama-tachi no tame ni Inochi o kakete tsurugi o taku shite kureta Aru no tame ni‼

     King Zephiel, I will not lose. For all the people who are praying for our triumph in our homeland Lycia. For all the comrades with whom I’ve fought, with whom I’ve shared laughter and tears. And for Alle, who risked his life to get me this sword!!

4. the affecting, concerning, regarding

Usage notes

This term is often spelled in hiragana.

Derived terms

• ために (tame ni)
• 為(ため)銀(ぎん) (tamegin)
• 外(がい)為(ため) (gaitame)

See also

• 訳(わけ) (wake)

Proper noun

ため • (Tame) 

1. a surname

Etymology 2

Originally referred to two dice with the same number.^[3]

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) ため [táꜜmè] (Atamadaka – [1])
• IPA^(key): [ta̠me̞]

Noun

ため or タメ • (tame) 

1. (slang) a peer

Derived terms

• ためぐち (tameguchi)

References

1. Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 (in Japanese), Third edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN
2. NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute, editor (1998), NHK日本語発音アクセント辞典 (in Japanese), Tokyo: NHK Publishing, Inc., →ISBN
3. 長嶺聖子, NagamineSeiko (2008 March) “韓国語の「パンマル」と日本語の「ため口」の違いに関する一考察-待遇表現の指導方法と関連して”, in 留学生教育‎, number 5, pages 19-33 [28]