そのために is a frequently used 接続詞(せつぞくし) (conjunction) in Japanese that utilizes
その, the 名詞(めいし) (noun) ため ‘reason’ (occasionally seen as 為(ため)), and the 格助詞(かくじょし) (case marking particle)
に.
そのために is most commonly translated as ‘for that reason’, or ‘to that end’.
そのために will be used at the beginning of a new sentence, to highlight something that will be done/occur due to the circumstances/goal of something in the first sentence.
に is often omitted.
-
ハマダさんはとても釣(つ)りが好(す)きです。そのため毎朝(まいあさ)仕事(しごと)に行(い)く前(まえ)に、釣(つ)りに行(い)っています。
Hamada-san loves fishing. For that reason, he does it every morning before he goes to work.
日本(にほん)では高齢化(こうれいか)が進(すす)んでいる。そのため、子供(こども)が生(う)まれたら政府(せいふ)からお金(かね)がもらえる。
Japan's population continues to age. To that end, when a child is born, you receive money from the government.
ため is very similar to ‘sake’ in English, and tends to be used far more frequently when referring to goals/positive outcomes, than it is for negative outcomes. However, it may still occasionally be used in negative circumstances, to highlight their (unfortunate) result.
-
子供達(こどもたち)にはなんの不自由(ふじゆう)もない生活(せいかつ)をしてほしい。そのために毎日(まいにち)夜遅(よるおそ)くまで仕事(しごと)をしている。
I want my kids to have a life without any struggles. For the sake of that, I work until late at night everyday.
新(あたら)しい車(くるま)が欲(ほ)しいけど今(いま)は住宅(じゅうたく)ローンで精一杯(せいいっぱい)。そのために車(くるま)を買(か)うのを我慢(がまん)している。
I want a new car, but I am struggling to pay my mortgage. For that reason, I am holding off on doing it.
為(ため) is an exceptionally flexible kanji in Japanese. In addition to ため it is occasionally used for する ‘to do’, なる ‘to become’, なす ‘to bring about’, and つくる ‘to make’. The kanji itself means ‘to put (something) to use’, with heavy emphasis on whatever new state/result will be arrived at afterwards. This meaning can be seen reflected in all of 為(ため)’s readings.