Important to me or important for me
Apr 5, 2015 22:47
I heard a phrase like "that is important to me," in a US drama.
I often use the phrase "important for me," but have never used the phrase "important to me," so I searched them.
As a result, I found the following things:
・In the case of using a sense subject like "it is important for me to...," we must use "for me."
・In the case like "this is important to me," we usually use "to me."
・In the case like "you are important for/to my life," for specific purposes, we can use both "for" and "to."
However, the nuances might differ.
Also, I found sentences such as the followings:
It is important to you for me to become a doctor.
It is important to me for you to become a doctor.
When I see these sentences suddenly, I would be thrown into utter chaos. Haha.
I often use the phrase "important for me," but have never used the phrase "important to me," so I searched them.
As a result, I found the following things:
・In the case of using a sense subject like "it is important for me to...," we must use "for me."
・In the case like "this is important to me," we usually use "to me."
・In the case like "you are important for/to my life," for specific purposes, we can use both "for" and "to."
However, the nuances might differ.
Also, I found sentences such as the followings:
It is important to you for me to become a doctor.
It is important to me for you to become a doctor.
When I see these sentences suddenly, I would be thrown into utter chaos. Haha.
私はアメリカのドラマで、"That is important to me." のようなフレーズを聞きました。
私は、"important for me" というフレーズをよく使用しますが、"important to me" とどう違うのか気になったので、調べました。
その結果、次のことがわかりました。
・"It is important for me to..." のような意味上の主語が使われる場合は、必ず "for me" を使う。
・"This is important to me." のような場合は、通常 "to me" を使う。
・"You are important for/to my life." のように、具体的な目的に対しては "for" でも "to" でも構わない。
しかし、ニュアンスは若干異なるかもしれない。
また、私が調べたサイトでは、次のような例文も書かれていました。
It is important to you for me to become a doctor.
It is important to me for you to become a doctor.
突然この分を見たら、混乱してしまいそうです。(笑)
私は、"important for me" というフレーズをよく使用しますが、"important to me" とどう違うのか気になったので、調べました。
その結果、次のことがわかりました。
・"It is important for me to..." のような意味上の主語が使われる場合は、必ず "for me" を使う。
・"This is important to me." のような場合は、通常 "to me" を使う。
・"You are important for/to my life." のように、具体的な目的に対しては "for" でも "to" でも構わない。
しかし、ニュアンスは若干異なるかもしれない。
また、私が調べたサイトでは、次のような例文も書かれていました。
It is important to you for me to become a doctor.
It is important to me for you to become a doctor.
突然この分を見たら、混乱してしまいそうです。(笑)
No. 1 Sunny's correction
- I heard a phrase like "that is important to me," in a US drama.
- I heard the phrase "that is important to me," in a US drama.
- I often use the phrase "important for me," but have never used the phrase "important to me," so I searched them.
- I often use the phrase "important for me," but have never used the phrase "important to me," so I searched up the difference between the two.
- As a result, I found the following things:
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- However, the nuances might differ.
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- Also, I found sentences such as the followings:
- Also, I found sentences such as the following:
- It is important to you for me to become a doctor.
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- It is important to me for you to become a doctor.
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- When I see these sentences suddenly, I would be thrown into utter chaos.
- When I see these sentences suddenly, I'm thrown into utter chaos.
kanotown
Thank you very much for correcting me! :)
I learned something new! I didn't know these nuances and connotations.
In the future, I'd like to be able to understand the difference between "to" and "for" in a instinctive way. Because I found many other problems such as "difficult for/to me," or "interesting for/to me," etc.
- When I see these sentences suddenly, I'm thrown into utter chaos.
I learned something new! I didn't know these nuances and connotations.
In the future, I'd like to be able to understand the difference between "to" and "for" in a instinctive way. Because I found many other problems such as "difficult for/to me," or "interesting for/to me," etc.
Sunny
Typically "to me" can roughly be translated to "in my opinion." "For me" is more action oriented and is usually with regards to the future.
Let's look at "difficult to/for":
That math problem looks difficult to me. -> In my opinion, that math problem is difficult.
It's difficult for me to lift that box. -> Describes the difficulty in a predicted action (lifting the box).
Usually "for me" takes the form:
It's difficult for me to (action verb).
More examples: It's difficult for me to understand how you are feeling. It's difficult for me to switch off the lights before I sleep.
It's very similar with interesting to/for (or any to/for adjective).
That story is interesting to me. -> In my opinion, that story is interesting.
It's not common to use "interesting for me," but the convention would be the same. For example: It'll be interesting for me to see how my boyfriend acts around his parents. Once again, there is a predicted action verb "to see" that is being described as interesting.
It is more common to omit the "for me," however.
This was a little long but I hope it helps! Let me know if you have any questions.
Typically "to me" can roughly be translated to "in my opinion." "For me" is more action oriented and is usually with regards to the future.
Let's look at "difficult to/for":
That math problem looks difficult to me. -> In my opinion, that math problem is difficult.
It's difficult for me to lift that box. -> Describes the difficulty in a predicted action (lifting the box).
Usually "for me" takes the form:
It's difficult for me to (action verb).
More examples: It's difficult for me to understand how you are feeling. It's difficult for me to switch off the lights before I sleep.
It's very similar with interesting to/for (or any to/for adjective).
That story is interesting to me. -> In my opinion, that story is interesting.
It's not common to use "interesting for me," but the convention would be the same. For example: It'll be interesting for me to see how my boyfriend acts around his parents. Once again, there is a predicted action verb "to see" that is being described as interesting.
It is more common to omit the "for me," however.
This was a little long but I hope it helps! Let me know if you have any questions.
kanotown
Thank you very much for your kind an useful explanations!! (*'▽')
I learned a lot from you! I will try to use these expressions thoughtfully.
I'm very grateful to you. :)
Thank you very much for your kind an useful explanations!! (*'▽')
I learned a lot from you! I will try to use these expressions thoughtfully.
I'm very grateful to you. :)
Usually, "important for you to...." has a more logical/pragmatic connotation. E.g. It's important for you to eat well. -> You should eat well. It's important for you to do well in school. -> You should do well in school. I like to think of "important for" to do with the future.
"Important to me" has a more personal meaning. E.g. It's important to me that you eat well. -> I want you to eat well. It has more to do with how you feel.
You can translate "Important to me" as "I want you to" in a more personal and intimate way. You can translate "Important for me" as "I should" in a practical way.