〜に (ni)

JLPT N5

One of the busiest particles — time, place of existence, destination, and more.

Meaning

に marks a point: a point in time, a place where something exists, a destination, or the target/receiver of an action.

Formation

• Time: 7時に (at 7:00)

• Existence: 部屋にいる (be in the room)

• Destination: 東京に行く (go to Tokyo)

• Receiver: 友達に電話する (call a friend)

Examples

毎朝7時に起きます。

Maiasa shichi-ji ni okimasu. — I get up at 7 every morning.

猫がソファの上にいる。

Neko ga sofa no ue ni iru. — The cat is on the sofa.

来月、京都に行きます。

Raigetsu, Kyōto ni ikimasu. — I'm going to Kyoto next month.

母に手紙を書いた。

Haha ni tegami o kaita. — I wrote a letter to my mother.

How it works

Think of に as pinning something to a point — a clock time, a spot where something exists, an endpoint you move to, or the person who receives an action. Relative time words (今日, 明日, 毎日) don't take に.

Compared with similar words

• 〜に — a point: time, existence, destination, receiver.

• 〜で — where an action takes place, or the means used.

• 〜へ — direction of movement (often interchangeable with に).

Common mistakes

• Relative time words take no に: ✗ 明日に → ✓ 明日

• Place of an action uses で: 図書館で勉強する (not 図書館に)

Related grammar

• 〜で — place of action / means

• 〜へ — direction

• 〜を — object