Japanese Particle に (ni)
Master Time, Place, and Direction with Comprehensive Examples
Table of Contents
1. Basic Concept of に (ni)
に (ni) is a versatile Japanese particle with three main functions:
1. Time – marks when something happens
2. Destination/Location – marks where something goes or exists
3. Purpose/Direction – marks the goal or purpose of an action
Think of に as pointing toward something – whether it’s a point in time, a destination, or a purpose.
2. Time Usage
Pattern: [Time] に [Action]
に marks specific points in time when something happens.
Specific Times
| Japanese | Romaji | English | Time Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| ろくじ に おきます。 | Rokuji ni okimasu. | I wake up at 6 o’clock. | Clock time |
| げつようび に がっこう に いきます。 | Getsuyoubi ni gakkou ni ikimasu. | I go to school on Monday. | Day of week |
| らいねん に にほん に いきます。 | Rainen ni Nihon ni ikimasu. | I will go to Japan next year. | Year |
| じゅうがつ に まつり が あります。 | Juugatsu ni matsuri ga arimasu. | There is a festival in October. | Month |
3. Place & Destination
Pattern: [Place] に [Movement Verb]
に marks where you are going or where something exists.
Destination Examples
わたし は がっこう に いきます。
Watashi wa gakkou ni ikimasu.
I go to school.
ともだち は うち に きます。
Tomodachi wa uchi ni kimasu.
A friend comes to my house.
Existence & Location
| Japanese | Romaji | English | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| つくえ の うえ に ほん が あります。 | Tsukue no ue ni hon ga arimasu. | There is a book on the desk. | Location of things |
| こうえん に こども が います。 | Kouen ni kodomo ga imasu. | There are children in the park. | Location of people/animals |
| にほん に すみます。 | Nihon ni sumimasu. | I live in Japan. | Residence |
4. Direction & Purpose
Pattern: [Purpose] に [Movement Verb]
に can mark the purpose or reason for going somewhere.
| Japanese | Romaji | English | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| えいが を み に いきます。 | Eiga o mi ni ikimasu. | I go to watch a movie. | Entertainment |
| べんきょう し に としょかん に いきます。 | Benkyou shi ni toshokan ni ikimasu. | I go to the library to study. | Learning |
| かいもの に いきます。 | Kaimono ni ikimasu. | I go shopping. | Activity |
5. Comprehensive Example Sentences
| Japanese (Hiragana) | Romaji | English Translation | Usage Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| あさ はちじ に あさごはん を たべます。 | Asa hachiji ni asagohan o tabemasu. | I eat breakfast at 8 in the morning. | Time |
| えき に いきます。 | Eki ni ikimasu. | I go to the station. | Destination |
| にちようび に やすみます。 | Nichiyoubi ni yasumimasu. | I rest on Sunday. | Time |
| ははは びょういん に います。 | Haha wa byouin ni imasu. | Mother is at the hospital. | Location |
| じゅうにじ に ひるごはん を たべます。 | Juuniji ni hirugohan o tabemasu. | I eat lunch at 12 o’clock. | Time |
| ほんや に ほん を か い に いきます。 | Hon’ya ni hon o kai ni ikimasu. | I go to the bookstore to buy books. | Destination + Purpose |
| らいげつ に しけん が あります。 | Raigetsu ni shiken ga arimasu. | There is an exam next month. | Time |
| せんせい に しつもん を ききます。 | Sensei ni shitsumon o kikimasu. | I ask a question to the teacher. | Indirect object |
| かぞく に でんわ を します。 | Kazoku ni denwa o shimasu. | I call my family. | Direction/Target |
| まいにち くじ に ねます。 | Mainichi kuji ni nemasu. | I sleep at 9 o’clock every day. | Time |
6. に vs Other Particles – Key Differences
に = destination, time, existence location, purpose
で = location of action, means/method
を = direct object, path of movement
へ = direction (similar to に but more abstract)
| Particle | Function | Example | Translation | When to Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| に | Destination | がっこう に いきます。 Gakkou ni ikimasu. | Go to school. | Specific endpoint/target |
| で | Location of action | がっこう で べんきょうします。 Gakkou de benkyou shimasu. | Study at school. | Where the action happens |
| に | Time | はちじ に おきます。 Hachiji ni okimasu. | Wake up at 8 o’clock. | Specific time point |
| へ | Direction | きた へ いきます。 Kita e ikimasu. | Go toward the north. | General direction |
7. Advanced Usage Patterns
Indirect Objects
| Japanese | Romaji | English | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ともだち に プレゼント を あげます。 | Tomodachi ni purezento o agemasu. | I give a present to a friend. | Friend receives the present |
| せんせい に ほん を かります。 | Sensei ni hon o karimasu. | I borrow a book from the teacher. | Teacher is the source |
Transformation/Change
みず が こおり に なります。
Mizu ga koori ni narimasu.
Water becomes ice.
8. Common Mistakes to Avoid
| Incorrect | Correct | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| きょう に いきます。 | きょう いきます。 | Don’t use に with relative time words |
| がっこう に べんきょうします。 | がっこう で べんきょうします。 | Use で for location of action, not に |
| ろくじ で おきます。 | ろくじ に おきます。 | Use に for specific times, not で |
| ともだち を でんわ します。 | ともだち に でんわ します。 | Use に for the person you call, not を |
| としょかん に あります。 | としょかん に います。 | Use います for people at locations |
Congratulations!
You’ve completed the comprehensive guide to the Japanese particle に (ni). Practice with different times, places, and purposes to master this versatile grammar point!
に (ni) Particle Quiz
Test Your Knowledge of Time, Place, and Direction
Exercise 1: Time Usage
How do you say “I wake up at 6 o’clock”?
Explanation: に marks specific points in time. Use に with clock times, not で or を.
Exercise 2: Destination
Complete: “I go to school.” わたし は がっこう ___ いきます。
Explanation: に marks destinations – where you are going to.
Exercise 3: Common Mistake
Which sentence is WRONG?
Explanation: Don’t use に with relative time words like きょう (today), あした (tomorrow), きのう (yesterday).
Exercise 4: に vs で
Which is correct for “I study at the library”?
Explanation: Use で for the location where an action takes place, に for destinations/existence.
Exercise 5: Existence
Complete: “There are children in the park.” こうえん ___ こども が います。
Explanation: に marks the location where people/things exist with います/あります verbs.
Exercise 6: Purpose
Complete: “I go to watch a movie.” えいが を み ___ いきます。
Explanation: に can mark purpose – the reason for going somewhere (verb stem + に + motion verb).
Exercise 7: Indirect Object
Complete: “I give a present to a friend.” ともだち ___ プレゼント を あげます。
Explanation: に marks the indirect object – the person who receives something (friend receives the present).
Exercise 8: Time Recognition
Which time expression uses に correctly?
Explanation: Use に with specific time periods (years, months, days of week), not with relative time words like あした or いま.
Exercise 9: Location vs Destination
What’s the difference between these sentences?
Explanation: に can mark both existence location (います/あります) and destination (きます/いきます).
Exercise 10: Advanced Usage
Complete: “Water becomes ice.” みず が こおり ___ なります。
Explanation: に marks the result of transformation with なります (become) – what something becomes.
Exercise 11: Multiple Functions
How many functions does に have in: げつようび に がっこう に べんきょう し に いきます?
Explanation: げつようび に (time), がっこう に (destination), べんきょう し に (purpose) – に has multiple uses in one sentence.
Exercise 12: Common Error
Which sentence needs correction?
Explanation: まいにち (every day) doesn’t use に. Correct: まいにち がっこう に いきます
How did you do?
Check your answers by selecting options above. Each correct answer will show in green!
