The に (ni) particle is one of the most fundamental and versatile particles in Japanese. It plays a critical role in sentence structure, serving multiple functions, such as:
- Marking a specific point in time
- Indicating a destination or direction
- Marking a location where something exists
- Indicating a recipient of an action
- Expressing comparisons, changes, and purpose
Mastering に will significantly enhance your fluency and allow you to construct more precise and natural sentences in Japanese. Let’s break down its various functions!
Table of Contents
Specifying a Point in Time (At/On)
The に particle is used to specify an exact point in time when something happens, such as days, months, years, or clock times. It functions similarly to “at” or “on” in English.
に is used for specific time references. It is NOT used with relative time words like “today” (きょう) or “tomorrow” (あした).
Structure:
[Specific Time] に [Action]Examples:
土曜日に映画を見ます。
(Doyōbi ni eiga o mimasu.)
I will watch a movie on Saturday.
午後3時に会いましょう。
(Gogo sanji ni aimashō.)
Let’s meet at 3 PM.
4月に日本へ行きます。
(Shigatsu ni Nihon e ikimasu.)
I will go to Japan in April.Specifying Relative to Now
When you specify a time relative to the present moment, such as today or tomorrow, you do not use the に particle.
Examples:
きょう は べんきょう します。
(Kyou wa benkyou shimasu.)
"I will study today."
わたしは あした がっこうへ いきます。
(Watashi wa ashita gakkou e ikimasu.)
"I will go to school tomorrow."Note that time words like きょう (today), あした (tomorrow), こんしゅう (this week), and らいねん (next year) do not take に because they are already understood as relative points in time.
Indicating a Destination or Direction (To)
に is used when describing movement toward a destination, similar to “to” in English. It is commonly used with motion verbs like 行く (iku, to go), 来る (kuru, to come), and 帰る (kaeru, to return).
Structure:
[Destination] に [Motion Verb]Examples:
学校に行きます。
(Gakkō ni ikimasu.)
I go to school.
日本に来ました。
(Nihon ni kimashita.)
I came to Japan.
うちに帰ります。
(Uchi ni kaerimasu.)
I return home.Note:
に vs. へ (e) – What’s the Difference?
- に = Stronger focus on arrival at a specific location (🚩 precise).
- へ = Focuses more on the direction of movement (🏃 general).
Example:
学校に行きます。 (I go to school.) (Emphasizes arriving at school.) 学校へ行きます。 (I head towards school.) (Focuses on movement towards it.)
Marking a Location Where Something Exists (At/In)
に is used to indicate the location where something exists when used with existence verbs ある (aru, for inanimate objects) and いる (iru, for living things).
Structure:
[Location] に [Exist]Examples:
本は机の上にあります。
(Hon wa tsukue no ue ni arimasu.)
The book is on top of the desk.
庭に犬がいます。
(Niwa ni inu ga imasu.)
There is a dog in the yard.
駅の前にコンビニがあります。
(Eki no mae ni konbini ga arimasu.)
There is a convenience store in front of the station.Note:
に vs. で – What’s the Difference?
- に = Describes a fixed location (where something exists).
- で = Describes where an action happens (what someone does there).
Example:
公園に犬がいます。 (Kouen ni inu ga imasu) There is a dog in the park. (Fixed existence) 公園で犬と遊びます。 (Kouen de inu to asobimasu) I play with a dog in the park. (Action happening in the park)
Indicating an Object Recipient (To / For)
に is used to mark the recipient of an action, often appearing with verbs like:
- 教える (oshieru, to teach)
- あげる (ageru, to give)
- もらう (morau, to receive)
Structure:
[Recipient] に [Object] を [Verb]Examples:
彼にプレゼントをあげました。
(Kare ni purezento o agemashita.)
I gave him a present.
先生に質問をしました。
(Sensei ni shitsumon o shimashita.)
I asked the teacher a question.
母に花を買いました。
(Haha ni hana o kaimashita.)
I bought flowers for my mother.Expressing Comparisons or Preferences
In some contexts, に marks choices or preferences.
Structure:
[Option] に [Decision]Examples:
コーヒーにします。
(Koohii ni shimasu.)
I’ll have coffee.
お茶にします。
(Ocha ni shimasu.)
I’ll have tea.
この服に決めました。
(Kono fuku ni kimemashita.)
I decided on this outfit.Indicating a Target of Change (Become)
The に particle is also used to indicate a result or state of change. It is often paired with verbs like なる (naru, to become) or する (suru, to do).
Structure:
[Target] に [Verb]Examples:
医者になりたいです。
(Isha ni naritai desu.)
I want to become a doctor.
部屋をきれいにしました。
(Heya o kirei ni shimashita.)
I made the room clean.
日本語が上手になりました。
(Nihongo ga jōzu ni narimashita.)
My Japanese has become better.Expressing Purpose or Reason (Purpose of)
The particle に (ni) can be used to indicate the purpose of an action, typically in combination with verbs like いく (iku, to go), くる (kuru, to come), or かえる (kaeru, to return). When に follows a verb, it marks the purpose of the action. It answers the question “Why are you doing this?” or “What is the goal?”
Firstly you need to grab the verb stem (base part of the verb before you add different endings) and add the に particle afterwards.
Structure:
[Reason] に [Action]Examples:
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."
よく えいが を み に いきます
(Yoku eiga o mi ni ikimasu.)
"I often go to watch movies."
しゅくだいを しに うちに かえります。
(Shukudai o shi ni uchi ni kaerimasu.)
"I go home to do my homework."