日本に行きたいなあ…
= Nihon ni ikitainaa…
= I wanna go to Japan.
日本でマギーと遊びたい…
= Nihon de Maggie to asobitai…
= I’d love to play with Maggie in Japan…
Hi, everyone! !onpu!
We have a very cute guest teacher, Max Sensei from Prague, the Czech Republic.
OMG, you are totally my type ❤️ かわいい〜〜！！= Kawaiiiii!!! = Cute!!
Max Sensei is having a great life with her mom, Nina who is studying Japanese, enjoying running through the snowbanks, sunbathing, taking a walk, etc.
You have quite a life, Max!
Today he will teach you the difference between the location markers, に ( =ni ) and で ( = de).
Some of my Twitter followers have been asking for this type of lesson, so here you go!
You might think this is very basic stuff, but sometimes it is very confusing!
I know there are a lot of textbooks that cover this subject, but allow me to give you my take on this grammatical topic.
Note : The usage of に and で varies. I will just focus on their function as location markers in this lesson.
OK, are you ready? Here we go!
****
🔸 The basic rules of how to distinguish に and で :
に indicates the location where something/someone exists or “is”. /When an action is done in a certain direction. Or with the verbs that describe the state.
でindicate where some action/events occur (Sometimes you move around in certain locations.)
Let’s study these one by one.
⭐️ で
↓
1) When you indicate the location where you do some activities/ actions that happen or take place.
● in / at = で+ (location) + action verb
Ex. デパートで買い物をする。
= Depaato de kaimono wo suru
= to buy at a department store
Ex.レストランで食事をする
= Resutoran de shokuji wo suru
= to eat at a restaurant
Ex. ベッドで寝る
= beddo de neru
= to sleep in a bed
Note : 寝る ( = neru) → we usually use で ( = de) but sometimes we use に ( = ni).
ベッドに寝る = beddo ni neru = to sleep IN the bed
The difference :
When you focus on the action (sleeping) you use で ( = de) and when you focus on the place, where you sleep, you use に ( = de)
So as 横たわる ( = yokotawaru)
Ex. ベッドに横たわる = beddo ni yokotawaru = to lie down in the bed.
(Focusing on the state and the place, where you sleep)
Ex. ベッドで横たわる = beddo de yokotawaru = to lie down in the bed.
(Focusing on the action, lying down)
Ex. どこでその事件のことを知りましたか？
= Dokode sono jiken no koto wo shirimashita ka?
= Where did you hear (or find out) about the incident?
Ex. 友達の家で知りました。
= Tomodachi no ie de shirimashita.
= I heard about it at my friend’s house.
Ex. 明日、どこで会う？
= Ashita, doko de au?
= Where are we going to get together tomorrow?
Ex. 駅前で待ち合わせしようか。
=Ekimae de machiawase shiyouka?
= Shall we meet in front of the station?
2) When you indicate the location where some activity/event is held:
Ex. 明日、大学で午後から授業があります。
= Ashita, daigaku de gogo kara jugyou ga arimasu.
= I have a class at the university in the afternoon.
Ex. 今度の学会はどこで開かれますか？
= Kondo no gakkai wa doko de hirakaremasuka?
= Where will the next academic conference be held next time?
Ex. 次の学会はニューヨークであります。
= Tsugi no gakkai wa Nyuuyooku de arimasu.
= The next academic conference will be held in New York.
Ex. 今週の日曜日、うちで誕生日パーティーを開くから来てね。
= Konshuu no nichiyouii, uchi de tanjoubi paatii wo hiraku kara kitene.
= I will have a birthday party at my house next Sunday so please come over.
⭐️ に
1) When you indicate the direction/location that someone/something moves towards:
Ex. 明日、東京に行きます。
= Ashita Toukyou ni ikimasu.
= I will go to Tokyo tomorrow.
Ex. どこに行くの？
= Doko ni iku no?
= Where are you going?
Ex. これから図書館に行くの。
= Korekara toshokan ni ikuno.
= I will go to the library now.
Ex. 北に進む
= Kita ni susumu
= to go North
Ex. 外に出る
= soto ni deru
= to go outside
Ex. 大阪に引っ越す
= Oosaka ni hikkosu
= to move to Osaka
Ex. パリに転勤する
= Pari ni tenkin suru
= to transfer to Paris
Ex. 家に帰る
= Ie ni kaeru
= to go home
2) When you indicate the place where something/someone exists:
●(location)にある = ~ ni aru = There is/are (things/ buildings ) in ~
●(location)にない = ~ ni nai = There isn’t /aren’t (things/ buildings ) in ~
Ex.うちの近くに郵便局があります。
= Uchi no chikaku ni yuubinkyoku ga arimasu.
= There is a post office near my house.
Ex. そのレストランはどこにありますか？
= Sono resutoran wa doko ni arimasu ka?
= Where is the restaurant?
Ex. 郊外にあります。
= Kougai ni arimasu.
= It is in the suburbs.
Note : Exception: Although you see a verb ある ( = aru), some compound word will be used with で
Ex. これはアメリカで人気があるゲームです。
= Kore wa America de ninki ga aru geimu desu.
= This game is popular in the U.S. (The direct translation is This is the game which has “popularity” in the U.S.)
●(location)にいる = ~ ni iru = Someone is/are in ~
Ex. 今、どこにいますか？
= Ima, doko ni imasu ka?
= Where are you now?
Ex. 今、渋谷にいます。
= Ima, shibuya ni imasu.
= I am in Shibuya now.
Ex. マギーは今、学校にいません。
= Maggie wa ima gakkou ni imasen.
= Maggie is not at the school now.
●(location) に住む = ~ ni sumu = to live in ~
Ex. どこに住んでいますか？
= Doko ni sunde imasu ka?
= Where do you live?
Ex. 千葉に住んでいます。
= Chiba ni sunde imasu.
= I live in Chiba.
Note : We usually use に for 住む ( = sumu) = to live .(You are talking about the state as it refers to the state of living in a location.)
Though there are some exceptions we usually use で with 暮らす ( = kurasu) to live, to spend one’s life and 生活する ( = seikatsu suru) to live because we consider these verbs to involve some actions.”
Ex.長い間、あのボロアパートに住んでいた。
= Nagai aida, ano boro apaato ni sunde ita.
= I used to live in that shabby apartment for a long time.
Ex. 長い間、あのボロアパートで 暮らしていた。
= Nagai aida, ano boro apaato de kurashite ita.
Ex. 長い間、あのボロアパートで生活をしていた。
= Nagai aida, ano boro apaato de seikatsu wo shiteita.
3) When you indicate the location/ place/ objects where you place (put / install / fix / attach) something
And when one’s action or motion is directed to/onto some location or an object.
Ex. 図書館に本を返す
= Toshokan ni hon wo kaesu
= to return a book to the library
Ex. 棚に荷物を上げる
= Tana ni nimotsu wo ageru
= to put one’s baggage in the overhead bin
Ex. 荷物を下に降ろす
= Nimotsu wo shita ni orosu
= to put down the baggage
Ex. 空欄に名前と住所を書いて下さい。
= Kuuran ni namae to juusho wo kaite kudasai.
= Please fill in your name and address in the blank.
Ex. あなたのバッグはどこに置いてありますか？
= Anata no baggu wa doko ni oite arimasuka?
= Where do you keep your bag?
Ex. ジムのロッカーに置いてあります。
= Jimu no rokkaa ni oite arimasu.
= I keep it in the locker in the gym.
Ex. 生ゴミは毎週水曜日に家の前に出しておいて下さい。
= Namagomi wa maishuu suiyoubi ni ie no mae ni dashite oite kudasai.
= Please put the garbage out in front of your house every Wednesday
Ex. 壁にポスターを貼った
= Kabe ni posutaa wo hatta.
= I put the poster on the wall.
Ex. 天井に照明器具を(取り)付ける
= Tenjou ni shoumei kigu wo (tori) tsukeru.
= to hang a lamp on the ceiling
Ex. 学校に教科書を忘れてきました。
= Gakkou ni kyoukasho wo wasurete kimashita.
= I left my textbook(s) at school.
Ex. 傘をどこかに忘れてきました。
= Kasa wo dokoka ni wasurete kimashita.
= I left my umbrella somewhere.
Ex. 車をガレージに入れる。
= Kuruma wo gareiji ni ireru.
= to park (put) a car in the garage
Ex. おもちゃを箱（の中）にしまう。
= Omocha wo hako (no naka ) ni shimasu.
= to put the toy(s) away in the box.
Ex. このテーブルにお皿を並べて下さい。
= Kono teiburu ni osara wo narabete kudasai.
= Please place the plates on the table.
Note : If you drink/eat something at the table, it will be an action so you have to use で
Ex. テーブルでお茶を飲む
= Teiburu de ocha wo nomu
= to have a cup of tea at the table
5) When you indicate a location/things something/someone can be fit or contain.
●(location) に入る／入っている = ~ ni hairu / ~ ni haitte iru = to have something in ~ / to contain something in ~
Ex. このエレベーターに何人位、入りますか？
= Kono erebeetaa ni nannin kurai hairimasu ka?
= How many people would fit in this elevator?
Ex. 冷蔵庫にケーキが入っています。
= Reizouko ni keiki ga haitte imasu.
= There are cakes in the fridge.
***********
⭐️で or に？？
🔹 Confusing cases :
There are some verbs you can both use に or で
Here are some examples.
★勤める = tsutormeru = to work at ~
Ex.どちらにお勤めですか？
= Dochira ni otsutome desuka?
= Where do you work?
Ex.トヨタに勤めています。
= Toyota ni tsutomete imasu.
= I work in Toyota Co.
Ex.トヨタで勤めてもう５年以上経った。
= Toyota de tsutomete mou gonen ijou tattta.
= It has been over five years since I started working at Toyota.
Note : But if the verb is 働く ( = hataraku) to work, you use で
Ex.どこで働いていますか？
= Doko de hataraite imasuka?
= Where do you work?
Ex.マギー先生はこの学校で６年間働いています。
= Maggie sensei wa kono gakkou de rokunenkan hataraite imasu.
= Maggie Sensei has been working at this school for 6 years.
★ 売っている = utte iru = to be sold
Ex.どこに売っていますか？
= Doko ni utte imasuka?
= Where do they sell it?
or
Ex.どこで売っていますか？
= Doko de utte imasuka?
Ex. 駅の売店で売っています。
= Eki no baiten de utte imasu.
= They sell it (them) at the store(or the kiosk) in the station.
or
Ex.駅の売店に売っています。
= Eki no baiten ni utte imasu.
★止まる＝ tomaru = to stop
このバスはどこに止まりますか？
= Kono basu wa doko ni tomarimasuka?
= Where does this bus stop?
or
Ex.このバスはどこで止まりますか？
= Kono basu wa doko de tomarimasuka?
Ex. 駅前で止まります。
= Ekimae de tomarimasu.
= It will make a stop in front of the station.
Ex. 駅前に止まります。
= Ekimae ni tomarimasu.
= It will make a stop in front of the station.
★買う= kau = to buy
Ex. どこで買えますか？
= Doko de kaemasu ka?
= Where can I buy it?
X You can’t say
どこに買えますか？
= Doko ni kaemasu ka?
Ex. 三越で買えます。
= Mitsukoshi de kaemasu.
= You can buy it at Mitsukoshi.
X You can’t say
三越に買えます
= Mitsukoshi ni kaemasu.
★ Other confusing cases :
Ex.４月から日本に留学します。
= Shigatsu kara nihon ni ryuugaku shimasu.
= I will be on an overseas study program in Japan starting in April.
（direction →に)
But when you say 勉強する = benkyou suru = to study, you say,
Ex.４月から日本で勉強します。
= Shigatsu kara nihon de benkyou shimasu.
= In April I will begin studying in Japan.
（The action of studying →で )
Ex. 鳥インフルエンザは世界中で流行っています。
= Tori infuruenza wa sekaijuu de hayatte imasu.
= Avian flu has been prevalent in the world.
But when you say 広がる = hirogaru = to expand, spread, you can use both
Ex. 鳥インフルエンザは世界中に/で広がりました。
= Tori infuruenza wa sekaijuu ni/de hirogarimashita.
= Avian flu has spread all over the world.
Note : When something is aiming in some direction we use に and when you indicate the place where it happens, you use で.
●落ちている = ochite iru = something has fallen/dropped
Ex.あっ！あそこにイヤリングが落ちている。
=Ah! Asoko ni iyaringu ga ochite iru.
= Oh, there is an earring over there. (someone dropped an earring over there.)
Note : 落とす = otosu = to drop can take both particles, で and に
Ex.どこでイヤリングを落としたの？
= Doko de iyaringu wo otoshita no?
= Where did you drop your earrings?
Ex. どこにイヤリングを落としたの？
= Doko ni iyaringu wo otoshita no?
= Where did you drop your earrings?
Ex. 携帯を床に落としてしまった。
= Keitai wo yuka ni otoshite shimatta.
= I dropped my cell phone on the floor.
Ex. 携帯をトイレに落としてしまった。
= Keitai wo toire ni otoshite shimatta.
= I dropped my cell phone in the bathroom
Ex. 携帯を電車の中で落としてしまった。
= Keitai wo dennsha no naka de otoshite shimatta.
= I dropped my cell phone on the train.
Note : You dropped it somewhere on the train and you focus on where this action of dropping happened more than the place where you actually dropped it.
🔸As we have seen, sometimes we can both use に and で
The translation might be the same but the nuance difference between them is that while に indicates one point or one specific place, で indicates “throughout the place/ area.
Also when we focus on the condition of actions or the results of the actions, we use に and when the action has been taking place for a certain amount of time, we use で.
●集まる = atsumaru = to gather
Ex. 虫が電灯に集まる
= Mushi ga dentou ni atsumaru.
= Bugs gather around the light
(the bugs are aiming towards the light→に)
Ex. 今夜どこで集まる？
= Konya doko de atsumaru?
= Where should we get together tonight?
Ex.マギーのうちで集まろうか。
= Maggie no uchi de atsumarou ka.
= Shall we get together at Maggie’s place?
🐶 Now it will be easier to understand the picture in the above.
Ex.日本に行きたいなあ…
= Nihon ni ikitainaa…
= I want to go to Japan…
●日本に行く = nihon ni iku = to go to Japan
When you talk about the destination, you use に
Ex. 日本でマギーと遊びたい…
= Nihon de Maggie to asobitai…
= I’d love to play with Maggie in Japan…
●日本で遊ぶ = nihon de asobu= to play in Japan → activity
you do some activity in a place, you use で
Let’s look at more pictures!
⬇️
「マックスなんでバケツの中にいるの？」
= Max nande baketsu no naka ni iruno?
=Why are you in the bucket, Max?
●You always use に for the verb
いる ( = iru) = to be
「ここでニーナがお風呂にいれてくれるのを待っているの。」
= Koko de Nina ga ofuro ni irete kureruno wo matte iru no.
= I am waiting for Nina to bath me.
●待っている = matte iru = to be waiting
Some activity takes place in one location.
so you use で.
●いれる = ~ ni ireru = to put something/someone in some place. →に
「マックス、どこにいるの？」
=Max, doko ni iruno?
= Where are you, Max?
●いる ( = iru) : existence !to right! に
「お風呂にいるよ。」
= Ofuro ni iruyo.
= I am in the bathroom ( or bathtub) .
「お風呂で何をしているの？」
= Ofuro de nani wo shiteiruno?
= What are you doing in the bathroom (or bathtub)?
●しているの（ = shiteiruno) →the verb する ( = suru) to do : action !to right!で
＊＊＊
「マギーどこで何をやってるの？」
= Maggie doko de nani wo yatteru no?
= Maggie, where are you and what are you doing?
●やっている ( = yatteiru) →(casual contraction) やってる ( = yatteru) →the verb やる ( = yaru) to do : action !to right!で
「おうちで掃除をしているよ。」
= Ouchi de souji wo shiteiruyo.
= I am at home cleaning.
●掃除をしている ( = souji wo shiteiru) to be cleaning → 掃除をする ( = souji wo suru) to clean : action !to right!で
マギー先生より = Maggie Sensei yori = From Maggie Sensei
Max先生は今、チェコに住んでいます。
= Max sensei wa ima cheko ni sunde imasu.
= Max Sensei now lives in the Czech Republic.
遠くにいるけれどもきっといつか一緒に日本で遊びたいです。
= Tooku ni iru keredomo kitto itsuka issho ni nihon de asobitai desu.
= Although he lives far away, I would love to play with him in Japan someday.
ありがとう = Arigatou = Thank you! 、Nina & Max!
⭐️Learn more about で ( = de) and に ( = ni)
→ How to use で ( = de)
***
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130 Comments
P.S.
”次の学会はニューヨークであります。”
I don’t get how であります functions here. Doesn’t it usually mean ”it is” in a formal way? How does it relate to the で particle meaning location of action or event?
This であります means to be held ~ and it is different from the formal expression that you are talking about.
So you talk about the location of a building
Aビルはどこにありますか？ = Where is A-Building?
渋谷にあります。 = It is in Shibuya.
But when you talk about the location where some activity/event is held, you use で
試合はどこでありますか？ Where will the match/game be held?
B体育館であります。= It will be held in B Gymnasium.
Hello Maggie.
In this sentence ”初めまして今日からこの部屋でご一緒させて頂くことになった”
Why is the で particle used? ご一緒 is more like a state than a direct action so how come is で used here?
Hello K
It might look confusing but
この部屋に一緒にいる : いる is considered to be a state
この部屋でご一緒する: ご一緒する the English translation could be “to be with someone” but it is considered to be an action verb. to spend some time with someone
Hello Maggie-sensei,
Can’t find anything about this, hope you could help: I’ve searched all over the internet and it seems the expression “to take care of” is 大事を取る with the を particle.
However, I found this sentence in a video game: 「大事に取っておいたんだけどなあ」 (“I took care of it and kept it (alive) you know, but…”) but I can’t find anything about 大事に取る with に particle and its meaning. Is it the same? Is there a subtle nuance between these 2 expressions? My issue is, when I type this on Google, all the searches land to the を particle. (・・;)ゞ
Thank you Sensei!
Hello Gaspatcher
大事を取る is an idiomatic expression so you use the particle を. You rarely use the particle を with 大事 except for this expression. (The original meaning is “to deal with the difficult situation”
but it means “to take care of oneself” but you use it when you want to be cautious and rest just in case.
For example, when you don’t feel good, you naturally worry that you may get worse the next day.
So 今日は、大事を取って休みます。 = I will rest and take care of myself (I don’t want to take any chance to get worse going out/working).
The sentence you heard in a video game,
大事に取っておいた This 大事に is an adverb (carefully) and this is pretty common way to use 大事に
大事に〜をとっておく = keep ~ close to one’s heart / to keep something carefully
Thank you so much Maggie Sensei!
This makes more sense now!
ありがとうございました♡
I am happy to hear it makes more sense now. :)
why was wo particle not used in this?
daigakumae wo orimasu.
を (wo) is an object marker.
大学前 (daigakumae) is a location where you get off the bus so it can’t be a direct object.
It might be easier for you to see with this sentence.
私は大学前でバスを降ります。
Watashi wa daigakumae de basu wo orimasu.
バス (basu) is an object of your action (get off)
The main action is 降ります (=orimasu).
Where you are going to get off (action)? →大学前 (daigakumae)
So you use で (de) location marker where you do some actions
大学前で降ります。why is the de particle in it ,why is not ni particle
Hello deepika
降ります is an action. That’s why you use で
thank you sensei
have one more question to ask
koko wo oshite kudasai.
why is the wo particle use in this?
を ( = wo) is an object marker
日本語を教える
=にほんごをおしる
=Nihongo wo oshieru
= to teach Japanese
Asking someone to teach you this part
ここを教えてください
= Koko wo oshiete kudasai
ここ (= koko) in this sentence means “here/this part”. You are pointing something
And want to know about that part. So you use an object marker.
One more question sensei
インドで うみが ありますか
Why is the で particle used in this?
Why is the に not used?
I would use には
インドにはうみがありますか？
Hi Maggie-sensei!
I was watching episode 2 of Hamefura season 2, and I was confused by this line:
‘Katarina-sama to isshoni butai ni tatteru nante hontou ni ureshii desu!’
Why isn’t it’ butai de’? It’s standing ON stage right? Not ‘to’ the stage? I don’t really understand why ‘ni’ is used here?
Hi Wendy
The basic rule is you use で with actions/ “action + で” (Ex. dancing, singing on the state) → butai de odoru / butai de utau
tatteru is just standing still and there is no motion/action. In that case you use “ni”
Ex. Someone wa soko ni iru = Someone is there.
Ex. Watashi wa soko ni nemasu. I will sleep there.
Ex. isu ni suwaru = to sit in a chair
Thank you for your quick response! I never knew this before. So would it change it if were singing instead? Do you say ‘butai de utatte’ in that case?
Do you say ‘butai de utatte’ in that case?
→Yes, butai de utatteiru = ~ is singing on the stage
butai de odotte iru = ~ is dancing on the stage
One more question sensei
インドで うみが ありますか
Why is the で particle used in this?
Why is the に not used?
Thank you very much. :)
Thank you for visiting the site,too! 🐶❤️
@maggiesensei 私が「に」と「で」の差を勉強するようにしている. でもこの差が分からない。だから、私は君の助けがほしいです！
The problem that I am facing is with verbs that can take both に and で, for the purpose of indicating a place/action just like 寝る. E.g. let us take 座る as an example, and the two sentences be 私は車の中で座っている and 車の中に座っている. Now, this was my original problem. I asked someone about it, and he said that, に座っている is more natural, whereas, で座っている is unnatural.
After not being satisfied by the reasoning I looked up upon your blog .In your blog is concerned it was stated that で was used to emphasize the focus of the action, whereas, に was to show the focus on the place. Thereafter, I pondered that, since the verb of 座る can be seen from two perspectives (i.e. both as focus on action and place). E.g. What are you doing in the park, could be answered 公園で座っている, whereas, where are you, could be answered as 公園に座っている. However, I was unsure, so I looked it up at Japanese Stackexchange. Therein I found differing answers, so I was not able to figure it out whether it was right or wrong. Further, the same situation is arising with similar verbs which have the applicability of both で and に. Could you really help me with this one and similar situations!? By giving the difference along with nuances and examples!? As these type of verbs usually have both directional focus as well as focus on action. I am linking below the answers that I found on JSE.
Moving ahead, I tried to apply the logic of focus on action and focus on place on different examples used in this blog. However, I got even more confused, when I tried to apply that logic, especially with どこ sentences, as both seemed same to me and I was not able to differentiate the nuance.
Especially with this 売っている = utte iru = to be sold
“Ex.どこに売っていますか？
= Doko ni utte imasuka?
= Where do they sell it?
or
Ex.どこで売っていますか？
= Doko de utte imasuka?”
both of them seemed same to me as in both the sentences the focus was felt on the action. I was not able to differentiate between the focus of place from that of action over here. So, could you please explain the nuance and how to differentiate in these type of sentences!? As, to be sold (and a few more examples that you cited, seemed action focused and not place focused) and I was not able to understand why に could have been used.
Also I was not able to find the relation between focus on action and place present in the following sentence
“But when you say 広がる = hirogaru = to expand, spread, you can use both
Ex. 鳥インフルエンザは世界中に/で広がりました.”
Could you please answer this as well?
I know this question is quite big to answer, but could you spare some time, as I am unable to understand this and have been working upon it since 1 week!.
(https://japanese.stackexchange.com/questions/55342/the-use-of-%e3%81%a7-and-%e3%81%ab-with-%e5%ba%a7%e3%82%8b)
(https://japanese.stackexchange.com/questions/80110/usage-of-%e3%81%ab-or-%e3%81%a7-in-the-following-sentence/80123noredirect=1#comment130657_80123)
Another one but this one is related to the verb 泣く. But it provides several answers relating to に and で, for focus on place/action
(https://japanese.stackexchange.com/questions/60/particles-%e3%81%ab-vs-%e3%81%a7/4594#4594)
Hi,
Well, so many quetsions and I can’t answer all the details in this comment section so let me answer what I can for now.
The basic difference is:
車（の座席）に座っています。/ 公園に座っている foucsing on where you are
車で座っています / 公園で座っている focusing on what you do (sitting down) in the car/the park.
When you are taking a walk with your friend. You got tired and you are looking for somewhere to sit.
「疲れたね。どこか座るところないかな？」
「あそこのベンチに座ろうよ。」
One hour has passed and you got bored.
「まず、ベンチで座わってばかりではつまらないからどこか行こうよ。」
= Just sitting down in the bench is boring. Let’s go somewhere.
A.どこに売っていますか？ (focusing on the location)
B.どこで売っていますか？(focusing on the action of selling)
Apart from the difference in the parenthesis, the nuance difference is
A: The speaker wants to know particular place. It could be just one store.
B: It could be many stores where you can buy the stuff.
Ex. 鳥インフルエンザは世界中に/で広がりました.”
This に indicates the direction (starting from certain place and spread over the world)
で is location (where this happened.)
You say 彼女は部屋の中で泣いている (where she is crying) but you don’t say 部屋の中に泣いている。
ありがとう @maggiesensei, I got most of it, but wouldn’t the last sentence, be grammatical, if the person wants to emphasize that he is crying at some place. E.g. If A asks, where are you crying I want to come to you. Won’t the reply by B, “部屋の中に泣いている”, be grammatical, as the focus of the sentence has shifted to place, and is not on action?
On similar, I would like to ask, will 大学の食堂に朝ごはんを食べます, be grammatical, if My mother asks me, “you did not have your breakfast, where will you eat it”? As in this sentence, the focus is more on place than on action.
ありがとう Maggie sensei, I got most of what you replied. An answer to these above two question would really help me out.
Q: If A asks, where are you crying I want to come to you. Won’t the reply by B, “部屋の中に泣いている”?
→No, I wouldn’t say that. 部屋の中で泣いている。
It only works for example
部屋の中に泣いている女の子がいる
= There is a girl who is crying in the room.
FYI you use に as an object marker,
（the reason why you cry) に泣く
But of course, it is not that usage in the example above.
大学の食堂に朝ごはんを食べます
→You don’t say that. 食堂で is correct.
Even if you focus on the place, the cases that you can use both に・で are limited.
本当にありがとう Maggie Sensei, 今分かっています! !
Good! よかった！ 😊
(Note for you: 今、分かりました。）
でも, I am explaining the state that I have understood it now, meaning to say, though that act happened in the past, I am relating it to the present showing the state that I have understood it now and, not that I am not saying that, I understood (focusing in the past), and だから、「今、分かっている」を使った. I hope it is right !! But thanks a lot !!
Though you want to express your current state, you don’t say 今、わかっている
You only use the past tense. 今、わかりました。
You use わかっています when someone tells you some information that you already knew. それは、わかっています。= I know that.
If you feel like learning more about わかる in future, this is the link.
And you are very welcome. :)
Hi, Maggie sensei.
Would it be the same meaning if I Say:
あなたの声に目覚めたならば and
あなたの声で目覚めたならば?
Thanks!
Hi Bere,
That に is a location indicator but yes, they mean the same.
If I wake up (woke up) with your voice.
こんにちは先生、I am having a doubt in the following sentence:
ここに車を止めてもいいですか。in this sentence why に is used and why でis not used? Because of で is used to indicate the place where the action occurs, で is not used? Or any other reasons why でis not used?
こんにちは、S. Abinaya
As I explained in the lesson,
に indicates one point or one specific place, で indicates “through out the place/ area.
When you park a car, you park in a specific parking spot not in the whole area.
わかりました、ありがとうございます先生
どういたしまして💕
Hello Sensei
In the sentence below, which particle should be used here- ni or de?
Jimusho de shorui o dashimashita.
Jimusho ni shorui o dashimashita.
I want to say- “I submitted the documents at the office”. I can’t clearly understand which one should be used. One of the examples above uses dashimasu in a similar sense. However, here, when i say “submit the document”, it seems like “submit” is the action taking place at the office (place). Can you please explain the reason for the answer?
Thanks
Hi Ruchika
The most natural answer is 事務所に
When you are talking about
どこに書類をだしましたか？
= Doko ni shorui wo dashimashita ka?
= Where did you submit your documents?
You say
事務所に書類を出しました。
（じむしょにしょるいをだしました。）
You submitted the documents to the office.
but under certain condition, both of them are possible.
Let’s change the sentence a little.
どこの事務所で出しましたか？
In which office, did you submit the documents?
名古屋の事務所で書類を出しました。
（なごやのじむしょでしょるいをだしました。）
= Nagoya no jimusho de shorui wo dashimashita.
= I submitted the documents in the office in Nagoya.
(As you said で indicated where the action, submitting, took a place.)
@maggiesensei is it because we are considering the office as an entity as in itself i.e. to say, when we are using “to” we are comprehending that, we are not basically giving (inside the office to someone, but to the office itself). As, if the context had another intent (like giving it to someone) I think that で could have been use; e.g. 私は会社で山口さんに手紙をあげた This is what my reasoning is, I need your help vide your response, as I am unable to figure out whether it is apt or not!
Hello フリップ
会社 is entity but even a place which is not entity you use で when some actions take place. (in this case the action is “handing a letter”)
（公園・部屋・日本）で〜さんに〜をあげた
Hi Maggie sensei,
I have a simple question. What is the difference between:
1. 学校に教科書を忘れてきました。
2. 学校に教科書を忘れました。
As I understand, 来る is to come. I thought the translation will be “I left my textbook (at home) and came to school)” ?
Also, If i want to say “I left my book at school and went home.”
I can write the below sentence?
学校に教科書を忘れて帰りました。
Hi Jason,
Bascic difference is
〜に忘れた I forgot something
〜に忘れてきた I left something at ~
So if you realized that you left a textbook at school and came home, you can say 学校に教科書を忘れてきました。
Hi Maggie sensei,
Your lesson is nice with lots of example and exception. Thanks!
But I have a confusion when に go with some adjective like くわしい。
東京に詳しい。
I choose 東京が詳しい and it’s wrong .(crying)
How does にfunction here?
Thanks again, Maggie sensei
Hi Bella
There are many usages of に such as to indicate location, indirect object, direction, etc.
And one of the usages is to show one’s ability with specific adjectives.
Aは、東京に詳しい A knows a lot about Tokyo.
Aは、コンピューターに詳しい。 A knows a lot about computer.
Aは、車に詳しい。 A knows a lot about cars.
You can also use 明るい
Ex. このことには明るい。 = To know a lot about this matter.
私は、コンピューターに弱い。= I am not good at using a computer.
私は、数字に弱い = I am not good at numbers.
Note:
It is not actually one’s ability but 弱い also means “to have a soft spot for ~”
私は、子供に弱い (= 子供に甘い）= I have a soft spot for children.
Maggie sensei,
どうもありがとうございます！
From Bella with love, :3
どういたしまして、Bella! 💕
Hi maggie sensei
Can i ask which is correct
Toshoukan de hon o karimasu
Toshoukan ni hon o karimasu
Or both correct?
Hello Kathrina,
since we have here an action (not a state), then “de” particle is correct.
Toshokan ni iru => to be in the library
Toshokan de yomu => to read (a book) in the library
ヨロシク
Nice follow up as always, 天人！
Toshokan de odoru. 💃 (to dance in the library)
Toshokan de hirune suru. 😪💤 (to take a nap in the library)
Toshokan ni inu ga iru. 🐶 (There is a dog in the library.)
Toshokaan ni neko mo iru. 🐱 (There is also a cat in the library.)
Hi maggie sensei:)
Can i ask which is correct?
Toshoukan de hon o karimasu or
Toshoukan ni hon o karimasu . ?
Thank you.
Hi Kathrina
It should be
Toshokan de hon o karimasu.
Hi again Maggie-Sensei!
If i want to put place in front of the sentence like this :
“In Japan, Tom ate Ramen”
Could it be like this?
“Nihon de, Tom ga Ramen o tabeta”
Hi Sno
日本で、トムがラーメンを食べた （Nihon de Tom ga ramen wo tabeta）
→日本で、トムはラーメンを食べた (Nihon de Tom wa ramen wo tabeta) is more natural.
If Tom doesn’t eat ramen but IN Japan, he ate raman. (Emphasizing “in Japan” to show the contrast), you can also say
日本ではトムはラーメンを食べた。
( Nihon dewa Tomu wa ramen wo tabeta)
Oh i got it! I am still confuse when to use wa or ga. Beacuse i start to talking about Tom, so i should use wa as topic marker, is that right?
And i haven’t learned about “dewa” yet but i understand what are you meaning ^ ^. Is the “dewa” here same or different with your lesson about “tewa/dewa”? (I have not read that yet ^ ^”)
The difference between “wa” and “ga” is complicated but the simple rule is
~ wa ~ desu. (emphasize what comes after “wa”)
~ ga ~ desu. (emphasizes what comes before “ga”)
In your example sentence, you don’t need to stress “Tom”. What Tom did in Japan is more important so you use “wa”
***
Now “wa” has another function which shows the contrast.
And you can combine with other particle. de wa / ni wa / e wa, etc.
Maybe not other countries but “in Japan” he ate ramen.
Oh i see! It’s all clear now, Thank you very much for your detailed explanation Sensei. ^ ^
You’re very welcome! :)
Hello Sensei. Actually, I want to ask this question on lesson about “wo” particle, but I can’t find it, or I just didn’t try hard enough to find it, so I post it here.
Few days ago, I watched Sukiyaki song on YouTube. Its first line is the one that was triggered my interest. It said “Ue wo muitte, arukou” and it was translated as “I look up as I walk”.
Why did it use “wo”, instead of “ni”? Particle “ni” is used for showing direction, right? For example, “mae ni”, “soko ni” and other. And, particle “wo”, if I’m not mistaken, is used for direct object of the verb or something that the subject is going through. Should it be, “Ue ni muitte, arukou.”?
Thank you.
Sorry! I don’t have a lesson on を “yet”.
(I should add it to the list, huh?)
As you said を is an object marker but it is also used as a direction marker with some verbs such as 向く or 見る
direction of action + を + verb
上を見る to look up
右を見る to look right
上を向く to look / face up
東の方を向く to face east
You don’t use に・へ with 見る・向く
X 上に向いて歩こう
Thank you very much Sensei! I think I can grasp what that lyric is trying to say. The main character look up, as there were something on this “up”, right? Maybe, it is related to the chorus, “shiawase wa kumo no ue ni”.
Japanese is really interesting. Make me want to know more about it. Thank you. Got another great lesson from here!
You’re very welcome! Your question was very good! And I love the song, too! ♪
Let’s spend the day looking up the sky today!! :)
hi sensei.
With the で and に, are they interchangable in a conversation, but they create a slightly different image.
プールで泳ぐ : you would imagine a person swimming in a pool.
プールに行って泳ぐ : you would imagine a person going to the pool to swim.
thankyou maggie
Hi Shaun,
As I explained in the lesson, there are some confusing cases where you wonder which one to use. However
プールで泳ぐ you can’t say プールに泳ぐ
You do the action, swimming, in the swimming pool.
If you put something into a swimming pool, you say プールに入れる
Your example プールに行って〜
This に is a direction marker. ~に行く to go to ~
こんにちは 、マギせんせい.
in みんなの日本語初級第14課会話, the women speak to the taxi driver 「花屋の前で止めてください」.
Why not using 「に」? Because in 練習b, the car park attendant use 「あそこに車を止めてください。」
I’m confusing about this. lol
こんにちは、lawson
As I wrote in the example sentences, you can say both （location) に／で車を止める
If you do “an action of parking” in front of the flower shop, you use で. We can assume there is enough space in front of the flower shop.
But if you try to park in particular “spot” (let’ say you are aiming the spot), you use に.
ありがとうございました。
どういたしまして！ :)
Hi Maggie Sensei,
This article is extremely helpful, however there is something I am confused about.
You have written 学校に教科書を忘れてきました。
So in that case, would it be wrong to state 駅で傘をわすれてました。
Also, which of the following is the correct way to express me forgetting my wallet in Japan during a trip there?
日本に財布を忘れました。
日本で財布を忘れました。
Thank you!! :)
Hi Damian
You usually use place に忘れる
You may hear/see some Japanese people use place+で＋忘れる. But still に忘れる is more natural.
忘れる means “to leave something somewhere” ~に置く・置いておく is “to leave/put something on purpose” but the idea is the same. It describes the state.
If you say “to lose” なくす, it is your action so you use で
学校で教科書をなくした。= I lost my textbooks at the school.
日本で財布をなくした。= I lost my wallet in Japan.
Ah that clears things up.
Thank you for your advice!
Cheers! :)
どういたしまして、Damian! :)
Hello,
I’ve been learning Japanese for a while, but there are still simple things that are confusing to me.
Which particle should I use in a sentence “it’s hot in Japan?”
＠kropiciel
Hello, kropiciel,
It’s hot in Japan.
The most natural way to say this sentence in Japanese is “As for Japan, it’s hot” →日本は暑いです。= Nihon wa atsui desu.
Hi Maggie Sensei,
In my textbook there’s this phrase ”学生たちは静かに勉強しています。” which I interpret as the students are studying quietly. I tried googling for the usage of the に here but can’t seem to find a suitable meaning. What is it? 静か is not really a location or thing isn’t it?
@fivebx
Hi fivebx,
静か（な） is a na-adjective and it means “quiet”.
静かに = quietly and modify a verb, in this case 勉強しています (studying)
Thank you for answering my above question sensei,
Could I also check that for i-adj, the に is not required? In my textbook there is this phrase called “ラジオの音を小さくしました。” I assume that it is an i-adj that’s why you don’t use 小さくにしました。
@fivebx
Right when you use adjectives to modify a verb or make a verb,
na-adective ~に+ verb
i-adjecitve ~ く + verb
静かに勉強する to study quetly
きれいに食べる to eat nicely (or finish eating everything)
大きく切る to cut in big pieces
かわいくする to make oneself/something cute
音を大きくする= to turn up the volume
音を小さくする = to turn down the volume
Hello. Many thanks for the lesson! Regarding the usage of にand で for the verb 広がる, I came across this sentence in a book: 道路が整備されるとともに地方都市が外側へと広がった。
I don’t understand the usage of へと here.
＠Yan
Hi Yan,
OK, now there is a subtle difference between に and へ
に is “to one destination”
へ is “towards that direction”
Yes, I read your explanation regarding the difference between に and へ in one of your older comments. I’m just confused with the addition of と after へ. What purpose does と serve? It’s not a quote in the sentence right?
@Yan
Ah, OK,
That と has a function to express “in such a manner” / “in the way” and describes the way how things work/ how someone does things and modifies the verb which comes after, in this case 広がった.
It would be easier to think と（いうように）
“〜へ….(a) “というように広がった。
(the part (a) describes how it expanded.)
マギー先生！手伝って下さい！
生徒から「に」についての質問って：
けいたいに絵がある。
けいたいって｜所〜場所｜じゃなくても、「に」を使えますか？
ありがとうございます！
@Cambriana
こんにちは、Cambriana
「に」は、場所だけではなく物や体にも使いますよ。
物でも記録（きろく）やメモリーされているというときには「に」を使います。
Ex. 携帯（けいたい）にある写真（しゃしん）をすべてコンピューターに移す。
= to transfer all the pictures in the cellphone.
Ex. その書類（しょるい）はPCにあります。
= That document is stored in the PC.
Ex. 棚(たな）にある本（ほん）
= The books in the shelf.
Ex. 腎臓（じんぞう）に石（いし）がある。
= to have a stone in one’s kidney
部屋で寝る or 部屋に寝る？
I am so confused. Can I use both? Please help Maggie Sensei☹️😔🙏
@Yuna
If you are talking about a small space such as a bed or a sofa,somewhere special or unusual, you use に because you are focusing on the place.
So if you are simply talking about sleeping in a room, you use 部屋で寝る
Ex.Talking to a child who falls a sleep in a living room
部屋で寝なさい。= Go sleep in a room.
(focusing on the action of sleeping)
It will be strange to say 部屋に寝なさい。
Exception, if you are talking about special room and focusing on the place, it is possible to use に
Ex. 今日は別の部屋に寝ます。
（You can also say 別の部屋で寝ます）
Maggie sensei, ciao!
I’d like to ask you about location particle when switching from transitive to intransitive verbs.
For example, I know that, if I’m in the act of opening the window in the room, I’ll say:
私は部屋で窓を開けています。
since in the room the action is taking place. But, if I want to describe the current state of the window, then there’s not “such an action” but “an existence instead”, I’m naturally prone (but maybe I’m wrong!) to say:
部屋に窓が開いています。
Thank you for all the useful lessons!
@Daniele
Ciao, Daniele!
Good question!
In that case you say
部屋の窓が開いています。
Thank you very much Maggie sensei for the quick reply! !JYANE!
@Daniele
You’re welcome, Daniele❤
理由に or 理由で ?
@ani
Hi ani,
Focus on what comes before 理由
(reason)を理由に+what to do/ what you did
(reason)が/という理由で+what to do/ what you did
Hi sensei,
I dont understand what you mean by “some compound words will be used with で”.
So “これはアメリカで大人気です” is correct and not “これはアメリカに大人気です” even though there is no “action”?
And can I also say アメリカでは大人気です
Thanks in advance!
@Bob
Hi Bob,
You usually use に with a verb ある
Ex. ここに鍵（かぎ）がある There is a key here.
But you use a particle で with some idiomatic compound words such as 人気ある（人気がある/ 人気ある) even if it is not an action.
And yes, you can say アメリカでは大人気です
は adds the meaning of contrast.
“some compound words will be used with で”.
means to use ある in
:test: には !damedame! がいます。ではここで一緒に直しましょうか。
!damedame! “Nagai aida, ano boro apaato de seikatu wo shiteita.”
“seikatsu”
“ijou tatta”
“erebeeta”
!damedame! “Toyota de tsutomete mou gonen ijyou tattta.”
!damedame! “Kono erebeetaa ni nannin kurai hairimasu ka?”
!damedame! “Eki no baiten de utte imasu.
either “store” or “kiosk” (?)
They sell it (them) at the store at the kiosk in the station.”
!damedame! “When something is aiming in some direction we use に and で indicate the place where it happens.”
There is something missing in this sentence and I don’t quite understand it, maybe “to indicate”?
!damedame! “Ex.携帯を電車の中で落としてしまった。
“densha no naka” instead of “Tokyou eki”
= Keitai wo Toukyou eki de otoshite shimatta.”
!damedame! “You dropped it somewhere on the train and you focus on where this action of dropping happened more than the
place where you actually dropped.”
no need for a paragraph 
!damedame! “「マギーどこで何をやってるの？」
“yatteru”
= Maggie doko de nani wo yatte iru no?”
And can you explain this “で” in a sentence I found in a Japanese course: アメリカではボストンも古い町です。 I don’t see an action, so why not “に”?
@Zetsuboumanadeshi
Thank you for spotting all the typos as always. I fixed them. :)
アメリカではボストンも古い町です。
Can you give me the sentence before this sentence?
Are they listing the old towns in the world or the U.S?
The dialog goes:
S: 奈良は古い町ですね。
A: ええ、たくさんお寺がありますよ。
S: 奈良はお寺で有名ですね。
A: ええ、スミスさんは古い町が好きですか。
S: ええ、私はボストンから来ました。アメリカではボストンも古い町です。
@Zetsuboumanadeshi
OK, then this では is “for” (For the ” U.S.” ） in the U.S.
京都 and 奈良 are much older than Boston. But Boston is considered to be an old town in the U.S.
So actually this 古い町です。means
アメリカではボストンも古い町として見なされています・古い町の中に含まれます。古い町と考えられています、古い町としてとらえれています。
→So
(The action here is “to think”)
That is why you use で.
なるほど。 And they don’t even bother to explain this in the course. That’s why I only take lessons at your site now. (Well, thats a lie, but lets pretend !happyface! )
おやすみなさい :zzzz2:
＠Zetsuboumanadeshi
どういたしまして＆おやすみなさ〜い！ :zzzz:
Hi sensei! Your lessons are great! They really help me out. :)
I just had two questions about particles…
I heard someone say サッカーって楽しい and I was wondering why they said って instead of は?
And I also heard みんなでやろう and I was wondering why they said で instead of と?
Sorry for all the questions. :o
@Romy
Hi Romy
サッカーは楽しいですか？
→casual サッカーって楽しい？
So this って is a colloquial way to say ~（というもの／〜ということ）は
みんなで everybody (including you) / in a group
みんなと you and everybody
Oh gosh, I didn’t see your reply to the previous question! Very sorry, sensei!
@Kelly
No worry.
I don’t know how long it will take but I will eventually make a lesson on the difference between は and が. Please wait.
@Kelly
No worries, Kelly.
The difference between は and が is REALLY complicated but I will eventually make a lesson. Please wait.
Hi sensei, thanks again for the great lesson! I was also wondering like the person below me the difference between は and が?
I often see が used when I thought が should be used, and vice versa. If you could clear this up for me, that’d be great!
Hi sensei, this isn’t part of the lesson but I couldn’t find a lesson on this…
I don’t understand the difference between using は or が? I know one is the subject marker and one is the topic marker, but if you could explain it in a bit more detail that’d be great! TT.TT
@Sam
Haha, I have been avoiding making the lesson on that subject because it is very complicated.
But it is on the request list so eventually I will make a lesson. Please wait patiently.
For now,
when you focus on what comes after, you use は and when you focus on what comes before, you use が
Ex. 私はマギーです。
= Watashi wa Maggie desu.
= I am Maggie.
Who is Maggie?
Ex. 私がマギーです。
= Watashi ga Maggie desu.
= I AM Maggie.
***
When you show the contrast, you use は
Ex. Aさんは日本人ですが、Bさんはアメリカ人です。
= A-san wa nihonjin desuga, B-san wa amerikajin desu.
= A is Japanese but B is American.
Hi Maggie Sensei,
Thank you always for your great explanations. I noticed a mistake that might confuse people. You wrote:
“The difference :
When you focus on the action (sleeping) you use で(=de) and when you focus on the place, where you sleep, you use で(=de)”
I think the second で should be a に. I hope that’s right
@アルアル
Hi アルアル！！
Thank you for spotting the mistake! I fixed it. ありがとう！！
Hi Maggie Sensei!
Thanks for the very informative lesson! I do have two questions though:
1. どこかで財布をなくしてしまいました。
Why is the particle で here and not に, since this is referring to the location where you put/left something? I thought this was similar to your example – 傘をどこかに忘れてきました。
2. 向こうに大きな川が見えます。
Here, is the particle に because 向こう, which means over there, connotes a direction? At first I thought it is に because it refers to the existence of the river, but the verb is 見えます and not います, so I’m confused.
Thank you!!
@May
Hello May
1.
〜で財布をなくす = I lost my wallet in ~
〜に財布を忘れる= I left my wallet in ~
なくす is an active verb so we consider it as an action. Therefore we use で
→学校でなくした （Not x学校になくした）
忘れる means to leave something and it is a verb to describe some state. (Same as 置く、置き忘れる） So we use に
→家に忘れる （Not x 家で忘れる）
2. 向こうに大きな川が見えます。
向こうに、connotes a direction? Yes.
Also 見える is a verb to describe some state so you use に
(When you say
向こうにある建物は〜です。it indicates location.)
Hello,
with the verb “hajimaru”, I have been taught that で始まる = it starts WITH and に始まる = it starts IN, so is it some exception? Because starting is an action itself and I don’t think it aims at any place but it’s true that when I hear “x de hajimaru” I think of “starting with x”, like “r”で始まる名前
So are the particles interchangeable in this kind of case?
@Lia
Hello,
The particles に and で have different functions.
＊〜で始まる = to start／begin with ~
Ex. 会議は会長のスピーチで始まる。 The meeting will start with the chairman’s speech.
Ex. 0120で始まる電話番号 The telephone number which starts with 0120
＊~に始まる= to start/begin in (from) ~
Ex. 新しい学期は春に始まります。= A new semester starts in spring.
Ex. ４月に始まるクラス= A class which starts from April.
Ok, thank you so much!! !Anapple!
@Lia
You’re welcome, Lia!
Sensei, even though you say the particle used with “neru” is “de” and it’s the usually used, sometimes it can be switched with “ni” if it refers permanency, right? I’ve heard recently “kokoro ni nete iru”, so I assumed they were trying to say that something was permanently “sleeping” there, on the speaker’s “heart”, giving an idea of permanency. Or maybe is it common to switch these 2 with the -te iru form? Thanks!!
@Sarah
I think what you heard/saw was not 寝る but 眠る=nemuru
“心に寝ている= kokoro ni neteiru” sounds strange. But you can say 心に眠っている
It is a metaphor and it means someone/something(some memory) stays in one’s heart.
to see the difference between 寝る and 眠る check this lesson.
And yes, we say 心に眠っている to indicate the location.
Oh yep, I’ve checked it again and I think they said that. But they were talking really fast and it sounds more like “neru”, it’s strange :/
It’s a metaphor yes, but anyway I think I’ve also heard it with real places when they want to say that something it’s there “hidden/sleeping”, as you mentioned in your neru/nemuru lesson, that “nemureru mori” fairytale, I watched the drama a few years ago and if I still remember well they were always saying “nemureru mori ni nemutte iru”, so I get the point of permanency !JYANE!
@Sarah
If you got the sentence from some youtube video that I can see, I will check it for you.
(And yes, you use に or で with 眠る Ex.ここで眠っているのは誰？ Who is sleeping here? Ex. 〜〜〜ここに眠る= metaphor hic jacet(here lies) —inscription on someone’s tombstone)
Oh, it was a movie but thank you for offering! anyway, after checking it with “open ears” I started to hear it right. Sometimes in movies the words get mixed up, it’s harder to understand than in real life! arigatou gozaimashita!!
@Sarah
I still think 心に寝る is somehow strange but ここに寝る may work.
So there are cases you use に for the verb 寝る. I added the information in the lesson.
But either way, good question, Sarah!And studying Japanese using a movie is tough but very useful and fun!
maggie-san…
first of all, thanks for the lesson although i’m still not quite sure myself~
is there any section/website that explains the different ways of using “de”, “ni” and “he/e”…
I know that some of the “ni” can be replaced by “he/e” like
(tokyou e ikimasu)(tokyou ni ikimasu)… (kouen no naka de, hito ga imasu)(kouen no naka ni, hito ga imasu)
but other than that I have no idea at all. please help~
@seb
Hello seb!
If you are not still sure how/when to use “に and で”, feel free to make a couple of sentences in this comment section. I will check them for you.
I don’t have a lesson on へ vs に.
But to be honest, we use it without thinking the difference but here is the grammatically difference.
to go to Tokyo
1) 東京に行く= Toukyou ni iku (particular point of the place)
2) 東京へ行く = Toukyou ni iku (direction)
to go to the restaurant
3)レストランに行く= resutoran ni iku = to go to the restaurant to eat
4) レストランへ行く= resutoran ye iku = to go to the place
So while へ simply implies “direction”, you use に when refer to the particular place (building) or when you have certain things/plans to do there
このレッスンを教えてくれてありがとうございました!
でも, 質問がありますが, “に”と”へ”の違いは何ですか
説明してください.
Max=かわいい〜〜！マギーも！(^_~)
@Remi
「に」と「へ」の違いは微妙（びみょう）です。
Basic ideas
に： 到着地点（とうちゃくちてん）the specific place you arrive
へ： 方角（ほうがく）、方向（ほうこう）direction
どこに行くの？ Where are you going? = Which place are you going to? (Asking a specific place)
どこへ行くの？ Where are you heading to? (Asking a general direction)
A : 東京に行きます。I will go to Tokyo (stress the place, Tokyo more than the B)
B : 東京へ行きます。I will go to/towards Tokyo
But in conversation, we use them without thinking about the difference so much.
Some says younger people use に more and I am one of them.
Thanks for explaining that to me, it was really helpful.
@Remi
You’re very welcome! :h:
For some reason I cannot remember what I was typing the other night when the blackout happened! I think I had a blackout myself too! Anyway…
テニスーコートでテニスーをしました。
Is this correct?
Thank you for the lesson! I hope the more advanced learners can bear with us!
@Kenneth
Good! No more blackout!
Your sentence is perfect. Just change テニスー to テニス.