заче́м

very common #200B1

1.
why, what for, for what purpose
Заче́м ты э́то сде́лал?
Why did you do that?
Unlike почему (which asks about the cause), зачем asks about the purpose or intention behind an action.

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

Зачем я э́то делаю?
Why am I doing this?
Я не зна́ю, зачем я э́то сде́лал.
I don't know why I did that.
От тяжёлой рабо́ты ещё никто не умира́л. Но зачем рискова́ть?
Hard work never killed anyone. But why take the risk?!
Не зна́ю, зачем вы э́то сде́лали.
I don't know why you did it.
Зачем ты э́то де́лаешь?
Why are you doing this?
Не зна́ю, зачем я утружда́юсь повторе́нием свои́х слов.
I don't know why I bother repeating myself.
Зачем ты э́то сде́лал?
Why did you do this?
Зачем вы э́то купи́ли?
Why did you buy it?

Typical usagePRO

Asking purpose directly
- заче́м?
  What for?
- заче́м э́то де́лать?
  Why do this?
- заче́м ты э́то сде́лал?
  Why did you do that?
With dative: who needs it?
- заче́м тебе́ э́то?
  What do you need this for?
- заче́м мне учи́ть латы́нь?
  Why should I study Latin?
- заче́м ему́ маши́на?
  What does he need a car for?
Focus and discourse particles
- А заче́м?
  But why?
- заче́м и́менно ...?
  Why exactly ...?
- заче́м вообще́ ...?
  Why ... at all?
- заче́м же ...?
  So why then ...?

LockedUnlock typical usages

Word familyзаче́мPRO

заче́мwhy
other
заче́м-тоfor some reason
other

Related words

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Contributions

Iron edited translation 2 weeks ago.
nrimanliyev edited translation 1 month ago.
Singolin edited usage info 1 year ago.
Singolin edited usage info 1 year ago.

Other Sources (auto generated)

Wiktionary PONS bab.la Reverso

More about the translations

for purpose what why