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What is the particle と means in ためにと用意した, and how is it different from
ために用意した?

> 初撃{しょげき}の後{あと}の陽動{ようどう}のために **と** 用意{ようい}した慧{けい}による「姫{ひめ}」の誘拐作戦{ゆうかいさくせん}。

"The strategy of kidnapping the "princess" by/which is done with the help of
Kei, is prepared in order to make a diversion after the first attack."

Thank you!

Context:

> 慧「まったく・・・そのやたら無謀なところは昔とまったく変わらないな、お前は・・・」
>
> 雪隆「それで、どうする？ 協力してくれるか？」
>
> 慧「…それは」
>
> 俺の問いに慧は…。
>
> 初撃の後の陽動のためにと用意した慧による『姫』の誘拐作戦。
>
> 最初から第９の騎士に奪還させることが目的ではあったのだが、るる姉たちは何も知らずによくやってくれた。
>
> おかげで『姫』は争奪戦無しで転がり込み、俺は闘技場に残った筆頭騎士三人を葬る事が出来た。

More context: As far as I understand the kidnapping of 姫 itself was
初撃の後の陽動のために, because before the kidnapping the speaker/narrator with 慧's help
made a sneak attack and in order to not fall under suspicion, right after the
attack 慧 kidnaped 姫, and while the sneak attack and the kidnapping 慧 was
disguised, so nobody except narrator knew who is it
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2014-02-13T16:15:51.270
14475
2017-12-27T10:06:29.573
2017-12-27T10:06:29.573
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question
grammar particle-と
meaning of particle と in ためにと用意した
It's the quotative particle と, i.e.

> 「初撃の後の陽動のために」と用意した慧による「姫」の誘拐作戦。

The actual meaning isn't much different, but gives a slight nuance that
「初撃の後の陽動のために」 are somebody else's words (e.g. 慧's), not the
speaker/narrator's. I would need more context to see if this is done for a
specific reason.
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2014-02-14T00:57:51.203
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2014-02-14T00:57:51.203
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answer
The difference between 「～～ために」 and 「～～ためにと」 can be very subtle at times;
nevertheless a difference does exist.

To use 「～～ために」, the speaker needs to be 100% certain of what the reason for an
action is. The action-taker may be either the speaker himself or another
person. If the latter is the case, the speaker already possesses enough
information to determine what the reason is.

To use 「～～ためにと」, the speaker may or may not be 100% certain of what the reason
for an action is. The action-taker would generally not be the speaker himself.
The use of 「と」, though it is called the quotative paricle, does not
necessarily require an actual quote of a statement. From my experience with
Japanese-learners, this is what seems to confuse them. It is perfectly natural
and correct to use the quotative 「と」 and 「って」 to express what the speaker
merely thinks or believes would be the opinion of either the general public or
a specific individual. In other words, you do not have to have heard it said
by someone.

In the phrase (it is not a sentence)
「[初撃]{しょげき}の[後]{あと}の[陽動]{ようどう}のためにと[用意]{ようい}した[慧]{けい}による「[姫]{ひめ}」の[誘拐作戦]{ゆうかいさくせん}。」
, the speaker, who is clearly [雪隆]{ゆきたか}, may or may not have actually heard 慧
say that 慧 prepared his strategy for the reason of 初撃の後の陽動のため. The reason may
well be 雪隆's conjecture.

If I were asked to rephrase 「～～のためにと用意した」 for a better understanding, I would
suggest inserting immediately after the 「と」, words like 「[思]{おも}い/思って」 or
「[考]{かんが}え/考えて」. The important thing is that in this case, the person who 思う
or 考える is 慧, not the narrator.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-02-22T00:31:56.780
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2014-02-22T00:31:56.780
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answer