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Carlo
Where is the difference between Почему and зачем ?
Can you help me to understand the difference beetwen these words? I understood the meaning is "why" and they are used always for the questions, but i didn't understand the difference.
If you can explain it in italian it's better!
Thanks a lot!
Aug 17, 2015 8:57 AM
Answers · 8
4
Зачем? - for what purpose?
Почему? - for what reason?
There is almost no difference, in some questions they are synonymous.
You can use both variants, It will not be wrong.
August 17, 2015
3
зачем
- literally 'for what’
- more concerned with goals or actions in the future
- reply usually begins with 'чтобы’ or 'затем, что’
почему
- literally 'by what means’
- more concerned with reasons, causes or consequences in the past
- reply usually begins with 'потому что’
For example:
Зачем ты открыл окно? To let in some fresh air.
Почему ты открыл окно? Because I’m cold.
'Зачем’ is also less formal, apparently.
August 17, 2015
3
why - почему
for what - зачем/для чего
August 17, 2015
1
Почему? - the reason of some action.
Зачем? - the aim of some action.
Sometimes they can be synonymous, like:
Зачем/почему ты изучаешь русский язык?
When they are NOT synonymous:
Сегодня я не буду работать. You can ask Почему? but cannot use Зачем?
August 17, 2015
Зачем? - perchè? (Se si intende il scopo)
Почему? - perchè? (Se si intende il motivo)
August 21, 2015
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Carlo
Language Skills
English, German, Italian, Russian
Learning Language
Russian
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