N wa V no ni tsukaimasu (N は Vのに使います): Beginner’s Guide to Saying “Use N for …-ing” in Japanese

Introduction

Need to say “We use scissors for cutting paper” or “This laptop is handy for writing reports” in Japanese?
The go-to expression is N は V-のに つかいます/べんりです/いいです. Here, のに means “for …-ing,” and it lets you describe the purpose or usefulness of any tool or object. Let’s break it down!

1. Structure and Meaning

Core pattern

N は V(plain) + のに つかいます
“We use N for V-ing.”

Example:

この はさみ は 紙かみを 切きるのに 使つかいます。
These scissors are used for cutting paper.

The の here acts as a nominalizer, turning the preceding verb phrase into a noun-like clause, which then functions as the object of に to indicate purpose. So, V-るの literally means ‘the act of V-ing’.

Evaluation variants

We can also talk about “evaluation” of objects by using words such as いいです (good) and 便利べんりです (convenient) in the latter part of the sentence.

N は V(plain) + のに べんりです / いいです
“N is convenient / good for …-ing.”

Example:

このスマホは大おおきいので、映画えいがを見みるのに便利べんりです。 

This smartphone is large, so it’s convenient for watching movies.

2. How to Form It

1. Choose the tool (Noun) and the action (Verb).
2. Put V into its plain (short) form, then add のに.
3. Add つかいます (or べんりです / いいです) after のに.

この辞書じしょは 日本語にほんごを調しらべるのに つかいます。
We use this dictionary for looking up Japanese.

N は N に つかいます vs. N は V-のに つかいます

• N は N に つかいます: Used when the purpose is a direct noun. Use に (no のに).
  • この辞書は 日本語の勉強べんきょうに つかいます。= This dictionary is used for Japanese study.
• N は V-のに つかいます: Used when the purpose is an action described by a verb.
  • この辞書は 日本語を調べるのに つかいます。 = This dictionary is used for looking up Japanese.
• V-のに vs. V-ために: While both can indicate purpose, V-ために (for the purpose of V-ing) is more general and often expresses the reason or goal for an action (e.g. 日本語を調べるために使います). V-のに typically emphasizes the suitability, necessity, or convenience of something for that action. V-ために can be used with any verb, but V-るのに commonly pairs with verbs like つかいます, べんりです, いいです, 時間がかかります etc.

3. Example Sentences

1. このスプーンはスープを飲のむのにつかいます。
   We use this spoon for drinking soup.
2. ノートパソコンはレポートを書かくのにべんりです。
   A laptop is convenient for writing reports.
3. クレジットカードはオンラインで買かい物ものをするのにいいですよ。
   A credit card is good for shopping online.
4. スマホは地図ちずを見みるのに欠かかせません。
   A smartphone is indispensable for checking maps.
5. 飛行機ひこうきは海外かいがいへ旅行りょこうするのに最速さいそくです。
   An airplane is the fastest way for traveling abroad.
6. このアプリはスペイン語ごを勉強べんきょうするのに役立やくだちます。
   This app is useful for studying Spanish.

4. Practice Time!

Make sentences with the pattern. The first one is done for you.

Challenge: Try a negative:

このナイフはパンを切きるのにはつかいません。
We don’t use this knife for cutting bread.

5. Common Mistakes

6. FAQ

Conclusion

Now you can confidently explain purposes and usefulness with N は V-のに つかいます / べんりです / いいです:

• ✅ Remember のに = “for …-ing” with verb phrases.
• ✅ Use plain V before のに; use に (no のに) when the purpose itself is a noun.
• ✅ Watch out for common particle mix-ups.

Pick three items around you and describe what each is used for using today’s pattern—your Japanese will become instantly more descriptive!