In Japanese, に[ni] is is one of the case-marking particles, or 格助詞[kakujoshi], meaning it is used to mark the role a noun or noun phrase plays in a sentence. に[ni] most frequently marks a noun that indicates the direction of travel, the location of something, the time when something takes place, or the indirect object of a verb.
Direction of travel
週末、友達の家に行きます。
Shūmatsu, tomodachi no ie ni ikimasu.
I’m going to my friend’s house this weekend.
Location
机の上にねこがいる。
Tsukue no ue ni neko ga iru.
There is a cat on the top of a desk
Time
５時に待ち合わせしましょう。
Goji ni machiawase shimashō.
Let’s meet up at 5 o’clock.
友人に本を買ってあげた。
Yūjin ni hon o katte ageta.
I bought my friend a book.
But that isn’t all as に[ni] plays a rather diverse range of functions! In this article we will introduce you to all the uses of に[ni], from the most to least common. We’ll also compare the use of に[ni] with the use of some of the particles that can perform overlapping functions, like へ[e], を[o], and で[de]. Let's start!
に[ni] is unique among these Japanese case-marking particles because of the wide range of uses it has. As we said above, に[ni] is most frequently used to mark:
the destination and direction of movement
the location where something exists
times and dates
the
However, に[ni] can also sometimes mark:
the or source of an action
a point of contact
the purpose of movement
the result of a change
“per” in a ratio
We will especially focus on the first four functions in this article, but we will look at examples of the other uses at the bottom of this page. Let’s go through the uses one-by-one!
に[ni] can be used to mark the destination or goal of a movement, much like the word “to” or “towards.” Usually, when に[ni] plays this role, it’s used in a sentence with a verb of motion like 行く[iku](to go) or 帰る[kaeru](to return).
週末、友達の家に行きます。
Shūmatsu, tomodachi no ie ni ikimasu.
I’m going to my friend’s house this weekend.
暗くなったので、子供たちはうちに帰った。
Kuraku natta node, kodomotachi wa uchi ni kaetta.
As it became dark, children returned (to) home.
Though に[ni] often mark to destinations which the action will eventually reach, it can also be used like “towards” to indicate the general direction of movement.
コロンブスは西に向かった。
Koronbusu wa nishi ni mukatta.
Columbus headed west.
lit. Columbus moved toward the west.
In English you’ll sometimes use words other than “to” to indicate a destination or direction, but you’ll probably still use に[ni] for them in Japanese!
セレナは来年日本に留学するつもりだ。
Serena wa rainen Nihon ni ryūgakusuru tsumori da.
Serena plans to study abroad in Japan next year.
日曜日に遊園地の入り口に集合しよう！
Nichiyōbi ni yūenchi no iriguchi ni shūgō shiyō!
Let’s meet up at the entrance to the theme park on Sunday!
Both に[ni] and へ[e] are used, in Japanese, to describe the direction of movement. So what’s the difference?
に[ni] is used much more frequently in spoken everyday Japanese than へ[e].
に[ni] tends to mark the final destination one reaches (more like “to”), while へ[e] tends to mark the direction of the movement (more like “towards”).
その列車はスペインに向かう。
Sono ressha wa Supein ni mukau.
The train is heading to Spain.
その列車はスペインへ向かう。
Sono ressha wa Supein e mukau.
The train is heading towards Spain.
Japanese speakers are not always careful about this distinction in daily conversation. However in phrases where there is extra emphasis on the fact that you’re discussing path or direction, the distinction can be stronger. For example, in the phrase 家への道のり[ie e no michinori](the path to the house), に[ni] cannot be replaced with へ[e].
When used to discuss movement, に[ni] and を[o] are opposites: に[ni] is like “to” while を[o] is like “from.” So what makes this distinction confusing?
に[ni] = “to” or “toward” | を[o] = “away from” |
|---|---|
家に入る ie ni hairu enter home | 家を出る ie o deru leave home |
電車に乗る densha ni noru get on the train | 電車を降りる densha o oriru get off the train |
大学に入学する daigaku ni nyūgaku suru enter a university | 大学を卒業する daigaku o sotsugyō suru graduate from a university |
The trickier contrast, though, comes in the case where を[o] can be used to discuss a location someone passes through on their way somewhere else. We can see this contrast in the examples below:
に[ni] = destination | を[o] = location passed through |
|---|---|
山に登る yama ni noboru climb a mountain → Climbing the mountain is the goal. You’re climbing “up” and “onto” the mountain. | 山を登る yama o noboru climb a mountain → You have to climb the mountain to get somewhere else. You’re climbing “over” the mountain. |
This is why you’ll usually hear を[o] used to describe climbing stairs: you usually climb stairs to get somewhere else, not just to stop on the stairs!
に[ni] = destination | を[o] = location passed through |
|---|---|
階段に上る kaidan ni noboru to climb onto stairs → rare | 階段を上る kaidan o noboru to go up the stairs → common |
Though を[o] is used in movement descriptions, primary use of the particle を[o] is to mark the of a verb. In this use it also contrasts with に[ni], which is used to mark the . We’ll talk more about this second point of contrast between に[ni] and を[o] below!
に[ni] can also be used in sentences that don’t involve movement. In this case it follows the location where someone or something exists.
You’ll most often hear に[ni] used this way alongside the verbs ある[aru] or いる[iru], which both mean “there is/are.” いる[iru] is used with people or animals while ある[aru] is used with inanimate objects.
あなたが探している本は図書館にありますよ。
Anata ga sagashiteiru hon wa toshokan ni arimasu yo.
The book you are looking for is in the library.
机の上にねこがいる。
Tsukue no ue ni neko ga iru.
There is a cat on the top of a desk.
But you can also use に[ni] this way with other verbs for existence. For example 入る[hairu](to have been entered) and 住む[sumu](to live) are commonly used with locational に[ni].
かさはかばんに入っています。
Kasa wa kaban ni haitte imasu.
The umbrella is in my bag.
lit. The umbrella exists having been entered into my bag.
彼は長い間ミュンヘンに住んでいる。
Kare wa nagai aida Myunhen ni sunde iru.
He has been living in Munich for a long time.
Both に[ni] and で[de] are used to mark a location, but they tend to be used with different kinds of verbs. This difference can be hard to capture in all cases, but the general rule is this:
に[ni] is used with actions that are completely static. Usually they can be verbs for existence or activities that don’t involve movement or change.
We don’t use に[ni] with that many verbs, but here are some examples of completely static verbs in Japanese:
Static activities: に[ni] | |
|---|---|
Japanese | English |
いる[iru] | there is/are (animate) |
ある[aru] | there is/are (inanimate) |
住む[sumu] | to live |
泊まる[tomaru] | to stay overnight |
勤める[tsutomeru] | to be employed (at…) |
立つ[tatsu] | to stand |
座る[suwaru] | to sit |
These verbs can be used in the progressive form ～ている[teiru] to express a sustained state, such as 座っている[suwatteiru](to be sitting) and 乗っている[notteiru](to be riding).
で[de] is used for activities that are more dynamic, like 食べる[taberu](to eat) or 話す[hanasu](to speak). These activities will often require someone to move or otherwise actively engage in the action.
Let’s have a look at some examples!
に[ni] = static | で[de] = dynamic |
|---|---|
✅ アパートに住んでいる。 Apāto ni sunde iru. I live in an apartment. | ❌ アパートで住んでいる。 Apāto de sunde iru. |
✅ 母はうちにいる。 Haha wa uchi ni iru. My mother is at home. | ❌ 母はうちでいる。 Haha wa uchi de iru. |
There are also some borderline cases, like “sleeping” where both に[ni] and で[de] are acceptable.
に[ni] = static | で[de] = dynamic |
|---|---|
✅ 赤ちゃんはベッドに寝ている。 Akachan wa beddo ni nete iru. The baby is sleeping in the bed. → Focus on where the baby is. | ✅ 赤ちゃんはベッドで寝ている。 Akachan wa beddo de nete iru. The baby is sleeping in the room. → Focus on what the baby is doing. |
✅ 庭に花が咲いている。 Niwa ni hana ga saite iru. Flowers are in bloom in the garden. → They are all currently open: static. | 🆗 庭で花が咲いている Niwa de hana ga saite iru. Flowers are blooming in the garden. → Sounds like they’re all actively opening and closing. Technically allowed, but very unlikely! |
The distinction is not always intuitive for language learners, but with a little practice, you’ll get the hang of it!
に[ni] is often used to mark a phrase that represents the exact time or exact day when something occurs. You might translate this use of に[ni] using words like “at” or “on”, such as “at one o’clock” and “on Sunday.” Here are some examples using に[ni] for time and date:
５時に待ち合わせしましょう。
Goji ni machiawase shimashō.
Let’s meet up at 5 o’clock.
来週の金曜日に化学の試験がある。
Raishū no kin’yōbi ni kagaku no shiken ga aru.
I have a chemistry exam on Friday next week.
However, while you’ll sometimes need to include に[ni], you don’t need to add it before every expression representing a time or date! Specific points in time such as “one o’clock” and “Monday” tend to take に[ni]. Less specific times, like 午後[gogo](in the afternoon) or 来月[raigetsu](next month), sometimes take に[ni] and sometimes don’t.
Here are three types of time phrase that should not be marked by に[ni]:
The time is relative: The date or time represented changes depending on when the speaker says it.
明日友達と会う約束がある。
Ashita tomodachi to au yakusoku ga aru.
I have an appointment to meet with a friend tomorrow.
These are some more examples of time phrases that aren’t used with に[ni]:
Japanese | English |
|---|---|
今[ima] | now |
今日[kyō] | today |
明日[ashita] | tomorrow |
昨日[kinō] | yesterday |
今週[konshū] | this week |
今年[kotoshi] | this year |
The time represents a frequency.
毎朝ヨーグルトを食べる。
Maiasa yōguruto o taberu.
I eat yogurt every morning.
The time represents a duration.
昨日は3時間オンラインゲームをした。
Kinō wa sanjikan onrain gēmu o shita.
I played an online game for three hours yesterday.
に[ni] is the particle used to mark the indirect object of a verb in Japanese.
アルフレードはねずみにチーズをあげました。
Arufurēdo wa nezumi ni chiizu o agemashita.
Alfredo gave the rat cheese.
Keep in mind these differences between a direct object and an indirect object:
A direct object is the noun that is directly acted upon or affected by the verb. In the sentence above, the cheese is the direct object, since that’s the noun that was moved from one owner to another.
An indirect object is not the direct object, but is still affected by the fact that the action took place. Usually, an indirect object receives something, benefits from the action, or is harmed by the action.
Let’s look at this contrast using some examples! Notice that, in Japanese, the indirect object tends to come before the direct object.
友人に本を買ってあげた。
Yūjin ni hon o katte ageta.
I bought my friend a book.
アルフレードはねずみにチーズをあげました。
Arufurēdo wa nezumi ni chiizu o agemashita.
Alfredo gave the rat cheese.
In English, you can often phrase a sentence so that the indirect object is preceded by “to” or “for.” So you could rephrase the translations above as:
I bought a book FOR my friend.
Alfredo gave cheese TO the rat.
If you ever need help spotting an indirect object, rephrasing your sentence this way can be a good first step!
In Japanese, some verbs will have an indirect object, but no direct object. The indirect object here is usually still a recipient of some benefit or feeling, or is receiving something abstract, like a message.
昨日カフェでクラスメートに会いました。
Kinō kafe de kurasumēto ni aimashita.
I met with classmates in a coffee shop yesterday.
来週のテストについて先生に聞きましょう。
Raishū no tesuto ni tsuite sensē ni kikimashō.
Let’s ask the teacher about the text for next week.
Though the uses of に[ni] outlined above are the most common, there are several other less common uses. Let’s have a look at some other phrases that will be marked by に[ni]!
The “doer” of a passive verb
に[ni] is used like “by,” to mark the agent (doer) of a passive verb in Japanese.
父に叱られた。
Chichi ni shikarareta.
I was scolded by my father.
Someone made to perform an intransitive action
When used alongside a , に[ni] is used to mark a noun who is made to move or sometimes to perform some other intransitive action.
先生は園児たちに歩道を歩かせた。
Sensei wa enjitachi ni hodō o arukaseta.
The teacher made kindergarteners walk on the sidewalk.
If the “causee” is made to perform other sorts of actions or undergo a verb, though, other particles might be used instead. Check out our post on causative verbs in Japanese to learn more!
Point of contact
に[ni] can be used to discuss something being transferred or pushed “on” or “onto” something else, for example:
紙に絵を描く。
Kami ni e o kaku.
I draw on paper.
車が電柱にぶつかる。
Kuruma ga denchū ni butsukaru.
The car crashed into a utility pole.
Purpose of a movement
に[ni] can be used a to mark the purpose or reason you’re going somewhere, sort of like “in order to” in English.
映画を見に行こう。
Eiga o mi ni ikō.
Let’s go see a movie.
Result of a change
When a change takes place, に[ni] is used to mark the “result state” of that change.
信号が赤に変わる。
Shingō ga aka ni kawaru.
The traffic lights turned red.
“Per” in a ratio
We use に[ni] to mark the denominator (the number it’s “out of”) in a ratio.
1000万人に一人
issenman nin ni hitori
one in 10 million people
3日に一度
mikka ni ichido
one every 3 days
In this article, we have explored the various functions of the case-marking particle に[ni], focusing on its four major uses and clarifying differences from some other particles. These major usages are to mark:
Destination and direction of movement, as in going “to” a location,
Location where a sustained activity takes place, as in a cat “on” or “in” the desk,
Time or date reference, as in meeting “at” one o’clock, and
Indirect object of the verb, as in giving a gift “to” a friend.
We have also briefly looked at other functions of the particle に[ni], which are to mark the following:
Agent of a passive verb
Someone made to move or perform other intransitive actions
Point of contact
Purpose of movement
Result of change
Per; ratio
We covered a lot of information in this article. If you want to learn more about に[ni], try these に[ni]activities to check how much you remember. Happy learning!
