In this Japanese Particles Two, of our Learn Japanese series, we will look at "ni, e" and "de."
Let's start off with "ni." In hiragana, this is に.
It can often be loosely translated as "in."
After the word list are a few examples:
Mr Suzuki = 鈴木さん = すずきさん dictionary = 辞書 = じしょ to lend = 貸す = かす
Japan = 日本 = にほん this = この postcard = はがき to send = 送る = おくる
Philip = フイリップさん five persons= 五人 = ごにん children = 子供 = こども
there is/are = いる Peter = ピーター that(near) =あの chair = 椅子 = いす
to sit = 座る = すわる she = 彼女 = かのじょ bicycle = 自転車 = じてんしゃ
to be hit = 撥ねられる = はねられる
Use it to show what the indirect object is.
Please loan Mr Suzuki your dictionary?
鈴木さんに辞書を貸してください。
Use it also to indicate destinations, dates, times and places.
I want to send this postcard to Japan.
日本にこのはがきを送りたいです。
You can combine it with "wa," when you want to say that something exists or is part of the subject.
Philip has five children.
フイリップさんには五人の子供がいます。
Used also when the verb shows a connection to an object or place.·
Peter is sitting in the chair over there.
ピーターはあの椅子に座っています。
Also when you want to indicate who or what was the cause of the action, as in using the passive tense.
English translation would be “by.”
She was hit by a bicycle.
彼女は自転車に撥ねられました。
You won't see this as much as "ni." However, it has the same meaning, when used in the sense of "toward" or "to."
You will usually see it with iku or mukau and is used to emphasize a destination.
After the below word list are a few examples:
Outside = 外 = そと want to go = 行きたい = いきたい airplane = 飛行機 = ひこうき
south = 南 = みなみ direction = ほう to face = 向かう = むかう table = テーブル
to walk = 歩く = あるく
I want to go outside.
外へ行きたいです。
The plane headed south.
飛行機は南のほうへ向かいました。
She walked towards the table.
彼女はテーブルのほうへ歩いていきました。
After the below word list are a few examples:
Today = 今日 = きょう house = 家 = いえ friend = 友人 = ともだち guitar = ギター
to play = 弾ける = ひける there is a person = 人がいる = ひとがいる
name = お名前 = おなまえ pencil = 鉛筆 = えんぴつ this = これ
Hokkaido = 北海度 = ほっかいど famouse = 有名な = ゆうめいな festival = 祭り = まつり
to be held = 行われる = おこなわれる
I will eat at home today.
今日家で食べます。
Can also mean "among."
There is no one among my friends that can play the guitar.
私の友人でギターを弾ける人がいません。
Indicates a method:
Please write your name with a pencil.
お名前は鉛筆で書いてください。
Used before いい to say that something is good or sufficient.
This is good enough.
これでいいです。
Sometimes combined with "wa," to show that something is done within the subject.
A famous festival is held in Hokkaido every year.
北海度では有名な祭りが行われます。
Basic Japanese vocabulary for the below exercise.
It's written first in English, then kanji and finally hiragana:
Paper = 紙 = かみ picture = 絵 = え 書く to draw/write = かく
7 o'clock = 七時 = しちじ to meet = 会う = あう before = お先 = おさき
excuse me = 失礼する = しつれいする body(being polite) = お体 = おからだ
take care = 気をつける = きをつける please = ください skin = 肌 = はだ very = とても
good = いい trip = 旅行 = りょこう London = ロンドン than = より Italy = イタリア
last weekend = 先週末 = せんしゅうまつ Tokyo = 東京 = とうきょう
quickly = すぐ that(polite) = そちら to return = 帰る = かえる
morning = 朝 = あさ 6 o'clock =六時 = ろくじ until = まで dark = 暗い = くらい
what = 何 = なに department store = デパート socks = 靴下 = くつした
not very = あまり happy = 元気 = げんき negative of desu = ではありません
now = 今 = いま Scotland = スコットランド to swim = 泳ぐ およぐ
cannot = ことができません
Try to translate English to Japanese for the below sentences, using the above list of words.
1. He drew a picture on a piece of paper.
2. Let's meet at 7.
3. Excuse me, but I'm leaving (before you.)
4. Please take care of yourself.
5. It's very good for the skin.
6. He went on a trip.
7. More than London, I want to go to Italy.
8. I went to Tokyo last weekend.
9. I'll come back right away.
10. It is still dark at 6 in
the morning.
11. What did you do in England?
12. I bought socks at the department store.
13. (I feel)not so good.
14. Now, you can't swim in Scotland
Once you have done it, click here to see how you did.
The only way to remember all this in Japanese Particles Two is to practice it on a regular basis.
The best way to do this is: