Structure
Noun + に
Details
Part of Speech
Particle
Word Type
Case Marking Particle
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Standard
About に
に can be a very difficult particle to master in Japanese, as it has many different translations in English. These translations are usually 'in', 'at', 'to', 'for', or 'on'. Let's look at an example of each meaning.
While these examples may seem quite confusing at first, it will be easier to think of に as always having one 'basic' meaning. That meaning is to be the 'end-point' of an action. This means that whatever action is being described, can only be considered complete/able to be completed once you're at/while you're at the location/time described in the sentence.
Verbs like 住む (to live/dwell) often confuse learners, as they use に instead of で. This is also due to the fact that 住む is a verb that can only be 'completed' at the destination. (You can only complete the act of living/dwelling in the place that you live, so to speak).
Synonyms
Examples
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彼はあそこにいます。
He is at that place over there.
ここに本を置く。
To place a book on this place (here).
この机の上に座る。
To sit on this desk.
駅に行く。
To go to the station.
病院に行く。
To go to the hospital.
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The target 「に」 particle
Tae Kim
Particles at / in / with に / で / と
Japanese Ammo
Choosing between に and で
sci.lang.japan
The particle に I
Imabi
Offline
Genki I
Page 60
Genki I 2nd Edition
Page 91
Marugoto Elementary 1 (A2) Rikai
Page 26
みんなの日本語 I
Page 32 [CH 4]
[DBJG] A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar
Page 299
[DBJG] A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar
Page 302
Tae Kim's Japanese Grammar Guide
Page 55
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に – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (9 in total)
FredKore
The verbs that use に just show that you exist at a location.
The verbs that use で show that you are actively doing something at a location.So, with the example, you might be thinking that “stay” (泊まる) is an action, but it’s really just describing that you exist at that hotel, and then the actions you take at that location are check-in, eat, talk, sleep. The hotel is the stage/setting for the actions that you do.
今夜、ホテルに泊まって、ホテルのレストランで食べて、ホテルの部屋のベッドで寝ます。
This evening, I’ll stay at the hotel (I’ll be at the hotel), and eat at the hotel restaurant, and sleep in the hotel bed.Here’s a link that even has examples where both に or で could be used and the different nuances of each.
に (Ni) vs で (De): How These Two Particles Define Location and Time Differentlycarolcakka
この漫画にはフリガナがついているから読よみやすいです.
I also saw this example sentence, what nuance would it make if it’s just ‘この漫画はフリガナがついているから読よみやすいです’? without the ‘に’? Thank you in advance!FredKore
For には, it’s probably better to think of it as a different particle from either に or は.
には (JLPT N2) | BunproYou’ll see it gets used in its own way like in these expressions…
わけにはいかない (JLPT N3) | Bunpro
からには (JLPT N2) | Bunpro
ないことには~ない (JLPT N2) | Bunpro
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