基本助詞 · Core case markers
に
Target / time / existence
Marks static location, direction of movement, specific times, indirect objects, and the target of change or purpose.
When to use
- Time: 三時に, 月曜日に
- Existence location: 机の上に本がある
- Direction: 学校に行く
- Recipient: 友達にプレゼントをあげる
How to use
- 1に follows the noun that is the target, time point, or static location.
- 2Movement toward a place uses に; being at a place can use に or で depending on action vs state.
- 3Purpose: 勉強に来る (come for studying).
Cautions
Nuance & non-standard uses
Patterns that go beyond the textbook default — contrast, omission, register shifts, and mixed particles.
には — limitation, contrast, or "for (someone)"
Adding は after に creates a topic frame: "as for at/in X…" Common in には無理 (impossible for me), ここにはない (not here), and purpose-like 子供には難しい (for children it's hard).
私には分からない。
I don't understand (it) — for me / as far as I'm concerned.
その話には興味がない。
I have no interest in that story — topic framed with には.
に vs で for existence vs event
存在 location is almost always に (机の上に猫がいる). An event at a place uses で (教室で会議がある). Mixing them is a classic learner error; some verbs allow both with a meaning shift (公園にいる vs 公園で遊ぶ).
今、会社にいる。
I'm at the office now — static location.
会社で働いている。
I work at the company — activity site.
に after clock time vs duration に
Specific clock points take に (三時に). Deadlines and "by" points can use までに. Duration endpoints in まで differ from point-in-time に — learners confuse 三時間に (wrong for "in three hours") with 三時間で (within three hours).
金曜日の五時までに送って。
Send it by five on Friday — deadline に.
あと十分で着く。
Arrive in ten more minutes — で marks span needed.
に as purpose / role (名詞＋に)
Noun + に before 行く, 来る, する can express purpose or capacity: 買い物に行く, 見物に来た. This is not the same as directional に alone — it nominalizes the errand.
散歩に行こう。
Let's go (for) a walk — errand-purpose に.
弁護士に相談した。
Consulted a lawyer — に marks the professional role consulted.
Examples
駅に着いた。
Arrived at the station.
七時に起きる。
Wake up at seven.