- に = location of existence (with ある/いる) and destination: こうえんにいます, にほんにいきます.
- で = location of an action: こうえんではしります (I run in the park).
- に also marks specific times: くじにおきます.
- で also marks means: バスで, はしで, にほんごで.
The core difference
| に | で | |
|---|---|---|
| Where… | something is | something happens |
| Typical verbs | あります, います, すむ (live) | たべる, はたらく, あそぶ, べんきょうする |
| Example | としょかんにいます I’m in the library | としょかんでべんきょうします I study in the library |
- こうえんにいますkōen ni imasuI’m in the park.
- こうえんであそびますkōen de asobimasuI play in the park.
- とうきょうにすんでいますTōkyō ni sunde imasuI live in Tokyo.すむ (to live) uses に, it describes where you are.
- とうきょうではたらいていますTōkyō de hataraite imasuI work in Tokyo.
Other jobs of に
- がっこうにいきますgakkō ni ikimasuI go to school.Destination.
- しちじにおきますshichiji ni okimasuI get up at 7.Specific time.
- ともだちにてがみをかきますtomodachi ni tegami o kakimasuI write a letter to a friend.Recipient.
- でんしゃにのりますdensha ni norimasuI get on the train.Target of getting on/in.
Other jobs of で
- バスでいきますbasu de ikimasuI go by bus.Means of transport.
- はしでたべますhashi de tabemasuI eat with chopsticks.Tool.
- にほんごではなしますnihongo de hanashimasuI speak in Japanese.Language.
- かぜでやすみましたkaze de yasumimashitaI was off because of a cold.Cause.
Same place, different particle
- へやにテレビがありますheya ni terebi ga arimasuThere’s a TV in the room.Existence → に.
- へやでテレビをみますheya de terebi o mimasuI watch TV in the room.Action → で.
Existence verbs are explained in ある vs. いる. For an overview of all particles, see Japanese particles.
Bonus: に vs. へ for destinations
For destinations, へ (read e) also works: にほんへいきます. The difference is small: へ stresses the direction (heading towards), に the arrival point. In everyday speech, に is more common; へ often appears in writing and on signs.
Common mistakes
| Wrong | Right | Why |
|---|---|---|
| こうえんにはしります | こうえんではしります | running is an action → で |
| いえでいます | いえにいます | being somewhere is existence → に |
| あしたにいきます | あしたいきます | relative time takes no particle |
| バスにいきます | バスでいきます | means of transport → で |
When both are possible
Some sentences change meaning slightly with each particle. かみにかく means write on paper (the surface receives the writing), while ペンでかく means write with a pen (the tool). Thinking “target or tool/place of action?” solves most cases.
レストラン＿たべます (I eat at a restaurant.)
ねこはいえ＿います (The cat is at home.)
じてんしゃ＿いきます (I go by bike.)
はちじ＿おきます (I get up at 8.)
きょうと＿いきます (I go to Kyoto.)
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between ni and de?
に marks where something exists (with ある/いる), destinations and specific times. で marks where an action takes place, as well as the means, tool or language used.
Is it Tokyo ni sunde imasu or Tokyo de sunde imasu?
東京に住んでいます. The verb 住む (to live) describes where you are located, so it takes に.
Do I use ni with time in Japanese?
Use に with specific times (三時に, 月曜日に), but not with relative time words like 明日 (tomorrow) or 来週 (next week).
What is the difference between ni and e?
Both mark destinations. へ emphasises the direction, に the arrival point. In everyday conversation, に is more common.