に

The に particle marks the goal of movement, specific point in time, or location of existence in Japanese.

💡 Key Usages

1. Goal of Movement

Used to indicate the endpoint or target of movement (not just any destination):

• 学校に行きます。 I go to school. (school is the goal of going)
• 東京に戻ります。 I’ll return to Tokyo. (Tokyo is where the returning ends)
• デートに行く！ Going on a date! 💕 (the date is the purpose/goal)

Important distinction: に marks where movement ends, while で marks where an action takes place:

• 公園に行きます。 I go to the park. (park is the goal)
• 公園で遊びます。 I play in the park. (park is where the playing happens)

2. Existence/Location

Used with verbs like ある and いる to indicate where something exists:

• いすの上に本があります。 There’s a book on the chair.
• 部屋に猫がいます。 There’s a cat in the room.

3. Time Reference

Used to mark specific points in time:

🔹 Days of the week

• 月曜日に会議があります。 There’s a meeting on Monday.
• 日曜日に友達に会います。 I’ll meet my friend on Sunday.

🔹 Clock times

• 7時に起きます。 I wake up at 7 o’clock.
• 3時に映画が始まります。 The movie starts at 3 o’clock.

🔹 Months/dates

• 7月に日本へ行きます。 I’ll go to Japan in July.
• 誕生日に家族と食事します。 I’ll have a meal with my family on my birthday.
• 2025年に卒業します。 I’ll graduate in 2025.

🚫 When NOT to Use に for Time

The に particle is not used with:

1. Relative time words (words that reference time from the current point such as あした (tomorrow), きょう (today), 昨日 (yesterday), おととい (day before yesterday), らいしゅう)
   • あした来ます。 I’ll come tomorrow. (not あしたに)
   • きょう忙しいです。 I’m busy today. (not きょうに)
2. Regular intervals (expressions that indicate repeated or habitual actions 毎日 (every day), 毎朝 (every morning), 毎週 (every week), 毎月 (every month), 毎年 (every year)
   • 毎日日本語を勉強します。 I study Japanese every day. (not 毎日に)
   • 毎晩テレビを見ます。 I watch TV every evening. (not 毎晩に)
   • 毎週土曜日友達と遊びます。 I play with friends every Saturday. (not 毎週土曜日に)
3. Question words about time:
   • いつ行きますか。 When will you go? (not いつに)
   • いつ行きますか

⚖️ Optional Use

For parts of the day or weekend, に is usually omitted, but unlike the strict rule with relative time words and regular intervals, these words can occasionally be followed by に depending on personal preference or emphasis.

• 朝(に)本を読みます。 I read a book in the morning.
• 週末(に)何をしますか。 What will you do on wfeekends?

🗣️ Real Life Tip

Think of に as marking:

1. Where movement ends (not where an action happens)
2. When something happens (for specific times)
3. Where something exists