に

Target/location Marker

Level 1Sounds Like ni

The particle に acts like a 'pin on a map.' It marks a specific target, whether that target is a place you are going to, a time on a clock, or the spot where something is located.

How It Works

に is one of the most versatile particles in Japanese. At this level, it has twelve primary functions:

  • Specific Time: It marks a fixed point on a clock or a specific date (e.g., 3:00, May 5th). For days of the week (e.g., Monday), に is optional. It is not used for relative time words like 'today' or 'tomorrow.'
  • Destination: It marks the goal of movement verbs like 行く（いく）, 来る（くる）, or 帰る（かえる）.
  • Location of Existence: It marks where something is when using the verbs いる or ある.
  • Location of Contact: It marks the surface or place where an action lands or stays, such as sitting on a chair (椅子に座る) or getting on a bus (バスに乗る).
  • Indirect Object / Recipient: It marks the person who receives something, such as the person you give a gift to.
  • Target of Action: It marks the person or thing toward which an action is directed, such as the person you meet (友達に会う).
  • Purpose of Movement: It marks the reason you are going somewhere when used with movement verbs (e.g., 食べに行く).
  • Change of State: It marks the result of a transformation when used with なる (e.g., 医者になる).
  • Frequency: It marks the time period in which an action occurs a certain number of times (e.g., 1週間に3回).
  • Source / Giver: It marks the person you receive something from (e.g., 友達に本をもらう).
  • Adverbial Creation: It attaches to な-adjectives to turn them into adverbs (e.g., 静かに).
  • Agent of Passive/Causative Verbs: It marks the person performing the action in passive or causative sentences (e.g., 先生に褒められる).

While it is often translated as 'to,' 'at,' or 'in,' it is best to remember it as the particle that 'pins down' a specific target or point.

Examples (6)

  1. 七時に起きます。

    I wake up at 7:00.

    Word by Word: Seven o'clock / at / wake up.

    Here, に marks a specific numerical point on the clock. This use is mandatory for numbers.

  2. 学校に行きます。

    I go to school.

    Word by Word: School / to / go.

    に marks the destination or goal of the movement.

  3. 椅子に座ります。

    I sit on the chair.

    Word by Word: Chair / on / sit.

    に marks the 'Location of Contact'—the specific surface where the action of sitting ends up.

  4. 友達に会います。

    I will meet my friend.

    Word by Word: Friend / (target) / meet.

    に marks the target of the action for verbs like 会う（あう）'to meet'.

  5. 猫は机の下にいます。

    The cat is under the desk.

    Word by Word: Cat / (topic) / desk / 's / under / at / exists.

    に marks the location where the cat exists when using いる.

  6. 医者になります。

    I will become a doctor.

    Word by Word: Doctor / to / become.

    に marks the result of a change when used with the verb なる.

Common Mistakes

  • Using に with relative time words.

    明日に学校に行きます。
    明日学校に行きます。

    Words like 明日（あした）, 今日（きょう）, and 昨日（きのう） do not take に because they are relative to when you are speaking, not fixed points on a calendar.

  • Using に for the location of an action.

    公園に走ります。
    公園で走ります。

    に is for where something exists. For where an action happens (like running or studying), you must use the particle で.

  • Using the dictionary form for purpose.

    食べるに行きます。
    食べに行きます。

    When using に to express the purpose of going somewhere, you must attach it to the verb stem (the part before ~ます), not the dictionary form.

How It Connects

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にLevel 1Target/location Marker

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