what for和why的区别：含义不同、词性不同、用法不同。what for含义为“为何、处罚”，表示动作的目的，常用不定式回答；why可作副词、名词和感叹词，含义为“为什么、…的原因、哎呀、理由”，常用because回答。
一、what for的含义及用法
what for意为为何;为什么;…怎样;处罚。
例句：And I can't even remember what for.
但我想不起来是因为什么
What's for lunch? I'm absolutely ravenous.
午饭吃什么？我饿死了。
We had some wine ─ or what passes for wine in that area.
我们喝了一些酒——或是那个地区当作酒的东西。
Even to this day we don't know what happened for sure.
即使到现在我们也不确定究竟发生了什么。
What matters for most scientists is money and facilities
对多数科学家来说，资金和设备是至关重要的。
What's for afters? is it fruit and custard?
最后一道菜是什么？是水果和乳蛋糕吗？
Since then, packaged, pre-prepared meals have been what's for dinner.
从那时起，预先准备好的包装食品就成了晚餐。
二、why的含义及用法介绍
why可作副词、感叹词和名词，意为为什么，为何;(反问，表示不必)何必;哎呀，呦，哟，嗨；原因;理由;说明;难解的问题。
例句：Tell me why you did it.
告诉我你为什么这样做。
Why get upset just because you got one bad grade?
何必因为一次成绩不好就想不开呢？
That's why I left so early.
这就是我早早离去的原因。
Why, it's easy─a child could do it!
嗨，这容易得很，连小孩子都干得了！
It's not for me to say why he left.
不适宜由我说出他离开的原因。
There's no earthly reason why you shouldn't go.
你完全没有理由不去。
Always offer a reason for why you want to develop a particular skill.
在你表示自己想培养某种技能时一定要说明原因。
