Structure
Noun + に
Details
Particle
Case Marking Particle
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
Related
Examples
--:--
Get more example sentences!
Premium users get access to 12 example sentences on all Grammar Points.
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.
Self-Study Sentences
Study your own way!
Add sentences and study them alongside Bunpro sentences.
Online
Choosing between に and で
sci.lang.japan
Particles at / in / with に / で / と
Japanese Ammo
The particle に I
Imabi
The target 「に」 particle
Tae Kim
Offline
[DBJG] A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar
Page 299
[DBJG] A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar
Page 302
Genki I
Page 60
Genki I 2nd Edition
Page 91
Marugoto Elementary 1 (A2) Rikai
Page 26
Tae Kim's Japanese Grammar Guide
Page 55
みんなの日本語 I
Page 32 [CH 4]
Track Resources!
Bunpro tracks all of the resources you’ve visited, and offers relevant bookmarks of physical books to help with offline tracking.
に – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (13 in total)
Asher
Main reason is because つとめる implies service toward whatever ends/goals the company has, rather than the company being the means toward an end (which would use で). In the case of つとめる the one who is the means toward the end is you .
You can think of つとめる as ‘assigned at’. In that sense you are just ‘existing’ at the company.
FredKore
勤める(つとめる) is more like “to be employed as, to serve as, to work for”
働く(はたらく) is like “to work (hard at), to labor, to operate”
So, it’s the difference between “I’m working for (I’m employed at) a company” versus “I’m working (I’m working hard) at my job”. Related but different.
会社に勤めている。
仕事で働いている。
additionalramen
These are both very helpful explanations, thank you!!
Got questions about に? Join us to discuss, ask, and learn together!
Join the Discussion