(no subject)

[lexabear.livejournal.com]

What is the difference in usage between the different "why" words - e.g. почему, зачем, and others I can't think of off the top of my head?

Comments

[belacane.livejournal.com]

I can't type in russian on this compuer.. .which sucks... and neither can i see the words you typed. But i assume you're refered to 'pochemy' and 'zachem'.
If i know correctly, 'zachem' is used more to ask about a FUTURE result, while 'pochemy' is used when asking about something already in existance.

[ieles.livejournal.com]

почему is why
while
зачем is what for

[dimentiy.livejournal.com]

"почему?" = "По какой причине?", "Which reason of that?"
"зачем?" = "С какой целью?", "For what purpose?"

[yers.livejournal.com]

another one: отчего? - almost the same as почему, but more literary, and with a very slight note of perplexion.

"зачем" и "почему"?

[(Anonymous)]

Ах-ах! Дементий меня опередил... Я полностью с ним согласен: "почему?" = "По какой причине?", "Which reason of that?" "зачем?" = "С какой целью?", "For what purpose?" Пример: "Почему, отчего? По какому случаю? Одного тебя люблю. А другого мучаю..." Толян

Re: "зачем" и "почему"?

[yers.livejournal.com]

this comment is so silly it deserves Babelfish translation

Ah- ah!Dementius me outdistanced... 4 is completely with it concordant:"why?"= "for what reason?",To "shyuichyu of reason of tyuat?""why?"= "with what target/purpose?","odds shyuat to purpose?"Example:"why, why?On what case?One you I love.But other I torment... "Tolyan