Core Functions
に is one of the most versatile particles with 5 main uses:
- Destination - where you're going
- Location of existence - where something exists
- Time - when something happens
- Indirect object - to/for whom
- Purpose - what for
1. Destination (Movement)
With verbs of movement - where you're going to:
学校に行く - "go to school"
日本に来る - "come to Japan"
家に帰る - "return home"
東京に着く - "arrive in Tokyo"
Common verbs: 行く, 来る, 帰る, 入る, 乗る
2. Location of Existence
With ある/いる - where something is:
机の上に本があります
"There's a book on the desk"
部屋に猫がいます
"There's a cat in the room"
東京に住んでいます
"I live in Tokyo"
Must use に with ある/いる for location.
3. Specific Time
When something happens:
三時に会いましょう - "Let's meet at 3 o'clock"
月曜日に行きます - "I'll go on Monday"
2020年に生まれました - "I was born in 2020"
No に with relative time:
今日行く ✓ (not 今日に)
明日来る ✓ (not 明日に)
4. Indirect Object
To/for whom - the receiver:
友達に本をあげる
"give a book to a friend"
先生に質問する
"ask the teacher a question"
母に電話する
"call (to) mother"
Pattern: [Person]に [Thing]を Verb
5. Purpose
What you're going for (with movement verbs):
買い物に行く
"go shopping"
映画を見に行く
"go to see a movie"
勉強しに来た
"came to study"
Pattern: [Verb stem]に行く/来る
に vs で
Key difference:
に = static location (exist/be)
で = action location (do something)
図書館にいる - "be at library" (existence)
図書館で勉強する - "study at library" (action)
See: に vs で Explained
に vs へ
Both mark destination, へ more abstract:
東京に行く ✓ - "go to Tokyo"
東京へ行く ✓ - "go toward Tokyo"
See: へ vs に Direction
Common Patterns
Existence
[Place]に [Thing]が ある/いる
部屋に机がある - "there's a desk in the room"
Movement
[Place]に 行く/来る/帰る
学校に行く - "go to school"
Time
[Time]に [Verb]
7時に起きる - "wake up at 7"
Indirect Object
[Person]に [Thing]を Verb
友達に手紙を書く - "write a letter to friend"
Purpose
[Verb stem]に 行く/来る
食べに行く - "go to eat"
Time Expressions with に
Use に:
月曜日に - on Monday
3時に - at 3 o'clock
2020年に - in 2020
誕生日に - on birthday
Don't use に:
今日 - today
明日 - tomorrow
毎日 - every day
去年 - last year
Verbs Requiring に
Movement
行く, 来る, 帰る, 入る, 着く, 乗る, 降りる
Existence
ある, いる, 住む
Attachment
つける - attach to
入れる - put into
Communication
言う - say to
話す - speak to
聞く - ask/hear from
Multiple Uses in One Sentence
友達に会いに東京に行きます
"I'll go to Tokyo to meet a friend"
(に for indirect object + に for purpose + に for destination)
Key Takeaways
✓ Destination (where going)
✓ Location of existence (where is)
✓ Specific time points
✓ Indirect object (to/for whom)
✓ Purpose (what for)
✓ Not used with relative time words
Related: