for
〜の間
解説 Definition
期間の長さを表し、「どれくらいの間続くか」を示す前置詞です。時間・日数・季節などと組み合わせて、動作や状態が一定期間続くことを表します。特に滞在、待機、休業、継続時間を述べるときによく使われ、目的を表す「〜のために」とは別の用法です。
For can show the length of time that an action or state continues. It is used with periods such as hours, days, weeks, seasons, or years. This use is common when talking about staying somewhere, waiting, being closed, or continuing for a certain amount of time. It is different from for meaning “for the purpose of” or “for someone.”
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
for は「ある方向・目的に向かう」「その対象に当てる」という感覚でまとめると覚えやすいです。for you は受け手、for dinner は目的、for three days は期間、pay for it はその対象への支払い。to が「到着点」寄りなのに対し、for は「誰のため・何の用途・何を目当てに」が出やすい前置詞。buy for, wait for, look for, be known for など頻出の組み合わせごと覚えると定着します。
Think of for as pointing toward a target, purpose, person, or amount. In for you, the target is the receiver; in for dinner, it is the purpose; in for three days, it is the length of time. To often focuses on an endpoint, while for often focuses on who, what purpose, what object, or how long. Learn common chunks such as wait for, look for, pay for, and be known for.
例文
I waited for two hours at the station.
駅で2時間待ちました。
The shop will be closed for a week in August.
その店は8月に1週間休みます。
She lived in Canada for three years before moving back to Japan.
彼女は日本に戻る前、カナダに3年間住んでいました。
〜のために
(意味 2)解説 Definition
目的・利益・対象・期間・交換などを幅広く表す基本前置詞。for you なら「あなたのために」、for three days なら「3日間」、pay for it なら「その代金を払う」のように、後ろの語との組み合わせで意味が具体化する。
"For" is a preposition used to show purpose, benefit, destination, or a period of time. It often means something is intended for someone or something, or done because of a reason. It is very common in everyday English and has several uses, so the meaning depends on the sentence.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
この for は「誰か・何かの利益や目的に向けて使う」という意味です。gift for you は受け手、study for the exam は目的、pay for it は支払いの対象を示します。方向の「〜へ、〜に向かって」と同じ語ですが、ここでは物・行為・お金・時間などが何に当てられるかを見るのがコツです。for dinner, for three days, for a reason のようなまとまりで覚えると、文中で意味を選びやすくなります。
Think of "for" as pointing toward a person, purpose, or target. It often answers "for whom?" or "for what?" as in "for you," "for dinner," and "pay for it." Remember common pairs like "wait for," "look for," and "be famous for."
例文
This gift is for you.
この贈り物はあなたのためです。
We stayed there for three days.
私たちはそこに3日間滞在した。
She is studying for the exam.
彼女はその試験のために勉強している。
〜へ、〜に向かって
(意味 3)解説 Definition
for は、人や物が向かう先・行き先を表す前置詞として使われます。leave for London のように、出発後に目指す場所や方向を示す場面でよく出ます。
As a preposition of direction, for shows the place, person, or thing that someone or something is moving toward. It is often used when talking about a destination or target after starting to move. This use is common in expressions about leaving, heading, or reaching toward something. It focuses on the direction or goal, not necessarily on arrival itself.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
for の方向用法は、forward「前へ」と近い感覚で考えると覚えやすいです。ある場所や対象を目標にして、そこへ向かって動くイメージです。to は到着点そのものを強く示しやすい一方、for は leave for Paris, head for home, reach for a cup のように「目指す先」「手を伸ばす対象」を表します。同じ for でも「〜のために」とは別に、移動や動作の向きに注目してください。
A helpful way to remember this directional use of for is to connect it with forward. Both give the image of moving toward a goal in front of you. In phrases like leave for Paris, head for home, or reach for a cup, for shows the target you are aiming at. This is different from the meaning of for as "for the sake of" someone or something.
例文
They left for London early in the morning.
彼らは朝早くロンドンへ向けて出発した。
She reached for the cup on the top shelf.
彼女は上の棚のカップに向かって手を伸ばした。
After dinner, we headed for home before the rain started.
夕食のあと、雨が降り出す前に私たちは家へ向かった。
for を含む表現
句動詞・イディオムなど 12 件。クリックで各表現の詳細へ。
for の語源・成り立ち Etymology
古英語 for に由来し、さらにゲルマン祖語 *fura- にさかのぼる。もとは「前に、前方へ」に近い感覚をもち、そこから「目的に向けて」「利益のために」など多様な用法へ広がった。before や forward とも遠い関連があるとされる。
For comes from Old English for, which goes back to Proto-Germanic *fura-. Its early sense was close to “before” or “toward the front,” and it later developed meanings such as “toward a purpose,” “for someone’s benefit,” and “for a period of time.”
外部辞書で調べる
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