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So a while back I read the lesson on purpose and ために.
Something confused me – and still does! – so I figured I’d ask.There are these two, very similar example sentences on how to use ために in the lesson:
1.
In order to buy a game, I will go to a video store
ゲーム を かう ために ビデオや へ いく2.
In order to eat sushi, I will go to a restaurant.
すし を たべる ために レストラン に いくWill somebody please tell me why Koichi used へ in one sentence and に in the other? Not to mention, what is へ even? It isn’t explained in the lesson, nor was it explained in any of the previous lessons (unless I forgot about it somehow..?)
Thanks!
に has a bit wider use than へ, which is used only for locations. You can compare it with “to” and “at” in English (but it’s not a literal translation of those particles, just a comparison of usage).
For example, you can use に in sentences like:
Go to Tokyo.
Give book to someone.But へ is only used for locations:
Go at a restaurant.Also, へ is read え, not the way it’s supposed to be read.
Thank you Hattori, that’s a great explanation.
That means that に and へ would both be valid in any of the two sentences, right?
Yah, either would be valid here.
That said, I’m going to have to disagree with one thing Hattori said – に does have a wider use than へ, but へ is always used for direction of travel (not location). It’s always translated as “to” or “towards” or (in occasional situations) “into”.
The particle in “eat at a restaurant” would be で…
Thanks for clearing that up, Joel!
And now, off へ bed…
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