Japanese Ni Particle
Japanese-Language
Introduction
The Japanese Ni Particle is one of the most used particles.
There are six different ways we can use the ni particle:
- 1. Direct Contact Particle
- 2. Locational Particle
- 3. Direction Particle
- 4. Purpose Particle
- 5. Indirect Object Particle
- 6. Source Particle
- 7. Point of Time Particle
Direct Contact Particle
We use the ni particle to indicate the object or place where some motion or action takes place. This object or place can be, for example:
- - a notebook
- - a blackboard
- - a mountain
- - a seat
You can compare it with the English word 'on' or 'onto.'
Examples direct contact particle:
ノートに名前を書きます。
Write your name in the notebook.
なんか黒板に書いています。
Write something on the blackboard.
私は山に登ります。
Climb a mountain.
椅子に座ってください。
Please sit on the chair.
Locational Particle
We use the ni particle to indicate the location where something or someone exists.
You can compare it with the English word 'in', 'at', or 'on.'
person は location に います
Examples locational particle:
私はデパートにいます。
I am at the department store.
学校にたくさん学生がいます。
There are many students at school.
図書館に面白い本があります。
There are interesting books in the library.
Direction Particle
We use the ni particle to indicate a place where something or someone moves to.
Examples of direction particle:
私は昨日アメリカに行きました。
Yesterday I went to America.
雨が降るから私はうちに帰ります。
It rains, therefore I return back home.
私は学校に入ります。
I enter the school.
Purpose Particle
We use the ni particle to indicate the purpose when someone moves from one place to another.
Examples purpose particle:
デパートに新しい鞄を買いに来ました。
I went to the department store to buy a new bag.
私はうちに昼ご飯を食べに帰りました。
I went back home to wat lunch.
学生が質問をしに来た。
A student came to ask a question.
Indirect Object Particle
We use the ni particle to mark the indirect object in a sentence.
Something can be transferred from one person to another person.
Examples indirect object particle:
私は母に手紙を買いました。
I wrote a letter to my mother.
私は弟にお金をやりました。
I gave my younger brother money.
私は友達に本を借ります。
I borrow a book from my friend.
Source Particle
We use the ni particle to mark the source or person we receive something from.
Examples source particle:
私は父に時計をもらいました。
My father gave me a watch.
私は友達に日本語を教えました。
I learned Japanese from my friend.
だれに習いましたか。
From who did you learn it?
Point of Time Particle
We use the ni particle to mark a point of time at which something takes place.
Examples point of time particle:
私はたいてい十時に寝ます。
I normally go to sleep at 10 o'clock.
私は日曜日に仕事をします。
I work on Sunday.
春に私は日本に行きたいです。
I want to go to Japan in spring.