Learn Hardcore Japanese: ryuugaku no tame ni mainiti nihongo wo benkyousimasu. - I study Japanese every day for studying abroad.

Literal meaning: studying abroad, overseas study.
It’s a noun that often goes with する to make a verb:
- 留学する = to study abroad
In this sentence, 留学 is used as a noun meaning “study abroad (the act / the plan).”

Why is there a の after 留学?

の here links 留学 to ため and shows a “of / for” relationship.

ため by itself is a noun meaning “sake, benefit, purpose”.
Pattern: Noun + の + ために = for the sake of ~ / for the purpose of ~

So:

留学のために = for the sake of study abroad / for (the purpose of) studying abroad

The の is like saying “the purpose of (my) studying abroad” in English.

What does ために mean in this sentence?

ために (often written as 〜ために) generally means:

“for the sake of ~ / in order to ~ / for ~”

In this sentence:

留学のために = in order to study abroad / for studying abroad

So the whole sentence means:
> I study Japanese every day in order to study abroad.

Is the に in ために the same に used for time and place?

Yes, it’s the same particle に, but used in a different role.

に often marks time or location, but it can also mark:
- target / direction of an action
- purpose or result

In ために, the idea is “toward that purpose,” so:

ため (purpose) + に (toward/for) → “for that purpose”

Over time, ために is treated almost like a single chunk meaning “for / in order to.”

Could I also say 留学するために? What is the difference from 留学のために?

Yes, you can say 留学するために毎日日本語を勉強します.

Difference:

留学のために
- Uses noun + の + ために
- Focuses on the idea / purpose of study abroad as a noun.
留学するために
- Uses verb (dictionary form) + ために
- Focuses on the action “to study abroad” more explicitly.

In most everyday contexts, both would be understood as:
> I study Japanese every day in order to study abroad.

The nuance difference is very small here; both are natural.

Why is there no subject like 私 (I) in the sentence?

Japanese often omits the subject when it’s clear from context.

In English, we must say “I study…”
In Japanese, if it’s obvious that you’re talking about yourself, you can leave out 私.

So:

(私は) 留学のために毎日日本語を勉強します。
The (私は) is just understood.

Unless there’s ambiguity, leaving out 私 is more natural.

Why does 毎日 come after 留学のために? Can I move 毎日?

The word order 留学のために毎日日本語を勉強します is natural, but 毎日 can move:

留学のために毎日日本語を勉強します。
毎日留学のために日本語を勉強します。
毎日、日本語を留学のために勉強します。 (with a pause/comma)

All are grammatically correct.

Nuance:

留学のために毎日…
- Slight emphasis on the purpose (for study abroad) first.
毎日留学のために…
- Slight emphasis on every day first.

Japanese word order is flexible as long as you keep the particles with the right words and the verb at the end.

What does the particle を do after 日本語?

を marks the direct object of the verb.

日本語 = Japanese language
日本語を勉強します = (I) study Japanese.

So を tells you that 日本語 is the thing being studied.

How is 勉強します formed, and what tense/aspect is it?

勉強します is the polite present/future form of the verb 勉強する (“to study”).

Formation:

Dictionary form: 勉強する
Polite present: 勉強します

Meaning:

Habitual action: I study / I study (something) regularly
Generic future: I will study

In this context with 毎日, it clearly means a habitual action:
> I study Japanese every day.

Could I say 勉強する instead of 勉強します? What’s the difference?

Yes, you can say:

留学のために毎日日本語を勉強する。

Difference:

勉強します = polite form (です・ます style)
勉強する = plain (casual) form

Use 勉強します:

With teachers, strangers, in formal situations, in writing (textbooks, news, etc.).

Use 勉強する:

With friends, family, in casual speech, in personal notes, inner monologue.

Grammatically they mean the same thing; only politeness level changes.

What’s the difference between 〜ために and 〜ように when talking about purpose?

Both can express something like “so that / in order to”, but:

1. 〜ために

Stronger sense of “for the purpose of / in order to”
Used when the subject can intentionally control the action.
Pattern:
- Verb (dictionary form) + ために
- Noun + の + ために

Example:

合格するために毎日勉強します。
→ I study every day in order to pass.

2. 〜ように

Often used when the result is not fully under your control or is more “so that it (hopefully) happens.”
Often with potential forms, intransitives, or things you “hope will be the case”.

Example:

日本人と話せるように毎日日本語を勉強します。
→ I study Japanese every day so that I can talk with Japanese people.

In your sentence, 留学のために is appropriate because 留学 is an intentional goal/purpose.

Does this sentence mean “because of studying abroad” or “in order to study abroad”? How can I tell?

〜ために can mean both “because of” and “for the sake of / in order to”, but context decides.

Cause / reason (because of):
- Often with non-volitional verbs or states (something happened due to ~).
- Example: 台風のために試合が中止になりました。
  → The game was canceled because of the typhoon.
Purpose (for / in order to):
- Often with volitional actions (things someone does intentionally).
- Example: 旅行するためにお金を貯めています。
  → I save money in order to travel.

In your sentence:

Action: 毎日日本語を勉強します (a deliberate action)
Phrase: 留学のために before that action

So it’s clearly purpose:

I study Japanese every day in order to study abroad.