Essential Japanese Particles: で, に, and を

Particles are small but powerful words in Japanese that show how words relate to each other in a sentence. Here, you'll learn how to use three of the most important particles: で, に, and を. Understanding these will help you make clear and natural Japanese sentences!

を (wo) — The Direct Object Marker

を marks the direct object of a verb—the thing that is being acted upon.

• パンを たべます。
  pan o tabemasu — I eat bread.
• えいがを みます。
  eiga o mimasu — I watch a movie.

に (ni) — Time, Destination, and Existence

に is used for:

• Time: ６じに おきます。
  roku-ji ni okimasu — I wake up at 6 o'clock.
• Destination: がっこうに いきます。
  gakkou ni ikimasu — I go to school.
• Existence: へやに いぬが います。
  heya ni inu ga imasu — There is a dog in the room.

で (de) — Place of Action or Means

で marks the place where an action happens, or the means by which something is done.

• きょうしつで べんきょうします。
  kyoushitsu de benkyou shimasu — I study in the classroom.
• バスで いきます。
  basu de ikimasu — I go by bus.

で vs. に — What's the Difference?

に is used for destinations, time, and existence (where something is or goes).
で is used for the place where an action happens.

• がっこうに いきます。 — I go to school. (Destination)
• がっこうで べんきょうします。 — I study at school. (Place of action)
• こうえんに いぬが います。 — There is a dog in the park. (Existence)
• こうえんで あそびます。 — I play at the park. (Action)