に, で, へ, and と
Distinguish time, destination, action location, means, and company.
に can mark a specific time or a destination: 三時に, at three; 学校に, to school. Relative times such as 明日 normally stand without に. へ marks direction and is pronounced e.
で marks the location of an action or the means used. と can mark the companion. Particles come after the relevant noun phrase. A single English preposition does not map to one Japanese particle in every context.
Examples
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- さんじsanjithree o’clock
- にnispecific time marker
- がっこうgakkouschool
- にnidestination marker
- いきます。ikimasuwill go (polite)
“I” is understood from context here; there is no written Japanese word for it in this sentence.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- としょかんtoshokanlibrary
- でdelocation of an action
- べんきょうします。benkyoushimasustudy (polite)
“I” is understood from context here; there is no written Japanese word for it in this sentence.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- ともだちtomodachifriend
- とtocompanion marker
- でんしゃdenshatrain
- でdemeans of transport
- いきます。ikimasugo (polite)
“I” is understood from context here; there is no written Japanese word for it in this sentence.
Keep in mind
The location of existence uses に: 図書館に本があります. Compare the action location 図書館で勉強します.