に (Target / Time / Place)対象・時・場所
に is the most versatile particle in Japanese. It marks destinations, specific times, locations of existence, recipients, purposes, and more. Mastering に means understanding at least 8 distinct functions — each with clear rules.
に is the most versatile particle in Japanese. It marks destinations, specific times, locations of existence, recipients, purposes, and more. Mastering に means understanding at least 8 distinct functions — each with clear rules.
Use 1: Destination / direction
に marks where you are heading: 学校に行く (go to school), 日本に帰る (return to Japan), 駅に着く (arrive at the station). Any motion verb (行く, 来る, 帰る, 着く, 入る, etc.) pairs with に for the destination.
Use 2: Specific point in time
に marks precise times: 7時に起きる (wake up at 7), 月曜日に会議がある (there’s a meeting on Monday), 2026年に卒業する (graduate in 2026). Use に with clock times, days of the week, dates, months, and years. Do NOT use に with relative time words: 今日, 昨日, 明日, 来週, 毎日, いつも — these never take に.
Words that never take に
今日 (today), 昨日 (yesterday), 明日 (tomorrow), 来週 (next week), 先月 (last month), 毎日 (every day), いつも (always), 今 (now). These are inherently temporal — adding に is redundant and incorrect.
Use 3: Location of existence
に marks where something or someone exists (with いる/ある): 東京に住んでいる (live in Tokyo), 机の上に本がある (there’s a book on the desk), 部屋に猫がいる (there’s a cat in the room). This contrasts with で, which marks where actions happen.
Use 4: Recipient / indirect object
に marks who receives something: 友達にプレゼントをあげた (gave a present to a friend), 先生に質問する (ask the teacher a question), 母に電話する (call my mother).
Use 5: Purpose of movement
Verb stem + に + motion verb = going somewhere to do something: 映画を見に行く (go to see a movie), 買い物に出かける (go out shopping), 食べに来た (came to eat). The masu-stem of the verb precedes に.
Use 6: Agent in passive sentences
In passive constructions, に marks who does the action: 先生に褒められた (was praised by the teacher), 雨に降られた (got rained on — adversative passive). This is similar to "by" in English passives.
Use 7: Result of change
に marks what something becomes: 医者になる (become a doctor), 赤に変わる (change to red), 日本語がペラペラになった (became fluent in Japanese). The state after the change takes に.
Use 8: Frequency / ratio
に marks frequency: 週に3回 (3 times per week), 1日に2回 (twice per day), 一人に一つ (one per person). The unit of time/quantity takes に, followed by the count.
Example sentences
毎朝6時に起きます。
Maiasa rokuji ni okimasu.
I wake up at 6 every morning.
に marks specific time (6 o'clock)
先週京都に行きました。
Senshuu Kyouto ni ikimashita.
I went to Kyoto last week.
に marks destination
机の上にコップがあります。
Tsukue no ue ni koppu ga arimasu.
There is a glass on the desk.
に marks location of existence
友達に手紙を書いた。
Tomodachi ni tegami o kaita.
I wrote a letter to a friend.
に marks the recipient
ラーメンを食べに行こう。
Raamen o tabe ni ikou.
Let's go eat ramen.
に marks purpose of movement
将来、医者になりたい。
Shourai, isha ni naritai.
I want to become a doctor in the future.
に marks the result of change (becoming)
Common mistakes
昨日に東京に行った。
昨日東京に行った。
昨日 is a relative time word — it never takes に. Only specific times (3時, 月曜日, 2026年) use に.
東京で住んでいます。
東京に住んでいます。
住む describes a state of existence, not an activity. Use に for the location where you exist/live. で is for locations where actions happen.
友達を電話した。
友達に電話した。
The person you call/contact is the recipient of the action — mark them with に, not を. The call itself is the verb, not something you do "to" them with を.
Frequently asked questions
When do I use に vs で for locations?
Use に for where something EXISTS (いる/ある/住む) and for DESTINATIONS (行く/来る). Use で for where an ACTIVITY takes place (食べる/遊ぶ/働く). 東京に住んでいる (live in Tokyo — existence). 東京で働いている (work in Tokyo — activity). This is the single most important に vs で rule.
Can I use に and へ interchangeably for destinations?
Mostly yes. 学校に行く and 学校へ行く both mean "go to school." However, に implies arrival/target, while へ emphasizes direction/heading-toward. に is far more common in modern Japanese. When the verb is 着く (arrive), you must use に, not へ.
Why doesn't 今日 (today) take に?
Relative time words (今日, 昨日, 明日, 来週, etc.) are already inherently adverbial — they function as time markers without any particle. Adding に is redundant and sounds wrong to native ears. Only "absolute" time markers (specific dates, clock times, days of the week) take に.
Which particle marks a specific time?