Japanese word

に

Pronunciation

Romajini

Meaning

  • particleto, in

Example

学校に行きます。gak kō ni i ki ma su

I go to school.

Illustration for に (to)

More examples

部屋にいます。heya ni i ma su

I am in the room.

先生に質問します。sen sei ni shitsu mon shi ma su

I ask the teacher a question.

Core concept

Connects an action, state, or event to a specific destination, location, time, or recipient.

Common phrases

  • 三時にsan ji ni

    at three o'clock

  • ここにあるko ko ni a ru

    be here

  • 会社に行くkai sha ni i ku

    go to work

  • 先生に聞くsen sei ni ki ku

    ask the teacher

  • 家に帰るie ni kae ru

    go home

Similar words

へe: Marks the direction or destination toward which movement is headed.
までmade: Marks the endpoint reached by movement or the limit of a route.

Definition in Japanese

動作の目的地や対象、存在する場所や時点などを示す語。dō sa no moku teki chi ya tai shō son zai su ru ba sho ya ji ten na do o shime su go

Word origin

The native Japanese particle に (ni, "at/to/in/on") continues an Old Japanese case marker に, which connected a noun with a place, direction, time, or recipient.

Usage tips

  • The particle に (ni, "at/to/in/on") can mark a clock time or a day such as Monday, but it is often omitted with relative time words such as today.

Other meanings

  • atparticle
  • onparticle

Word lists with this word