Daily used word (top 300)
Translation
For what purpose?" or "What for? also Why?
Example: Заче́м ты э́то сде́лал? - Why did you do this?
Info: Think of зачем as focusing on future-oriented reasoning, looking for intent or purpose.
Usage info
Difference in usage between "заче́м & почему́": Think of зачем as focusing on future-oriented reasoning, looking for intent or purpose. Think of почему as focusing on past or present circumstances, looking for an explanation of a cause. Reply with что́бы or зате́м, что́бы.
Examples
- Меланхо́лия для пси́хов и приду́рков; вот зачем ну́жен алкого́ль и же́нщины.Melancholy is for crazies and morons, that's what alcohol and women are for.
- Зачем ты сюда пришёл?What have you come here for?
- Зачем ты откры́л коробку?Why did you open the box?
- Не понима́ю, зачем тебе э́то.I don't understand why you want it.
- Зачем ты был там?Why were you there?
- Зачем ты совра́л?Why did you lie?
- Зачем вы хоте́ли меня ви́деть?Why did you want to see me?
- Я не понима́ю, зачем в укра́инском алфави́те переноси́ли мя́гкий знак: на мой взгляд, бы́ло гораздо логичнее, когда он был в конце́.I don’t understand why they moved the soft sign in the Ukrainian alphabet; it seemed much more logical for me when it came at the end.
- Зачем ты де́лаешь э́то?Why are you doing this?
- Зачем Мэри идет на пикник с ним?Why is Mary going with him to the picnic?
Contributions
Singolin edited usage info 6 months ago.
Singolin edited usage info 6 months ago.
Singolin edited usage info 6 months ago.
Singolin edited translation and usage info 6 months ago.