All three particles に (ni), で (de) and を (wo) can describe a location but the question is, which one do we use? This is a topic that confuses many learners and hopefully, we will be able to clear up any confusion in this lesson.
Let's take a look at the following sentences where 橋 meaning "bridge" are all the same except for the use of either に, で and を:
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橋にしのぶが・・・
hashi ni shinobu ga (...)
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橋でしのぶが・・・
hashi de shinobu ga (...)
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橋をしのぶが・・・
hashi o shinobu ga (...)
A Japanese native may already have a feeling for what is going to be said next simply based on which particle is being used, however, before understanding what the differences are between these three examples, let's now look back at what each particle represents.
Summary of に
To start with, we have the に particle; this is used to show the destination or state, for example:
| Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| 学校に行きます gakkou ni ikimasu |
to go to school (I go [to] school) |
| 学校にいる gakkou ni iru |
to be in school (I exist [in] school) |
In the first example, the direction of movement is expressed with the に particle showing the target or destination of the action; in this case, the action of 行きます means "to go" so に indicates the destination of that movement: "to school".
に can also express the state of being or existing as seen in the second example; here いる means "to exist" referring to an animate object such as a person so for that reason に is expressing where someone exists: "in school".
Summary of で
Next, we have the で particle which describes the location, time or means of an action.
| Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| 学校で勉強する gakkou de benkyou suru |
to study at school (I study [at] school) |
In this example, the で particle is used to express where the action takes place; in this case, the action of 勉強する meaning "to study" takes place "at school".
Summary of を
Finally, we have the を particle which is usually used to mark the direct object of a sentence but when this is used with a movement verb to describe a location, it gives the impression of marking a path such as going along, across or through a route; from point A to point B.
| Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| 廊下を歩く rouka o aruku |
to walk through the corridor (I walk [through] the corridor) |
As discussed in a previous lesson about intransitive verbs, since 歩く (to walk) does not take an object but does describe movement, を here marks the path of the action; in this case, the path is "the corridor" meaning "the corridor" is being walked "through".
に vs で vs を
Now let's look back at those examples from before, were you able to guess what each one could mean, based on which particle was used?
橋に (hashi ni)
This uses the particle に (ni), which is commonly used to indicate the target or destination of an action. In this sentence, 橋に (hashi ni) would mean "to the bridge", indicating that the action of movement arrived from a point some place else; a possible verb here could be 行く (iku) meaning "to go".
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橋にしのぶが行く
hashi ni shinobu ga iku
Shinobu goes to the bridge
Another use of the particle に (ni) we know about is to indicate the state of existence to say where something exists; a possible verb here could be 立つ (tatsu) meaning "to stand". While the act of standing may seem like it should use で, it is not clear precisely where on the bridge Shinobu is standing; Shinobu is simply existing by standing on the bridge.
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橋にしのぶが立っている
hashi ni shinobu ga tatteiru
Shinobu is standing on the bridge
橋で (hashi de)
This uses the particle で (de) which is commonly used to indicate the location or place where an action takes place. In this sentence, 橋で (hashi de) would mean "on the bridge" or "at the bridge," indicating that the action is taking place on the bridge itself; a possible verb here could be 歩く (aruku) meaning "to walk".
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橋でしのぶが歩いている
hashi de shinobu ga aruiteiru
Shinobu is walking on the bridge
If we wanted to use the word 立つ (to stand) with the で particle, we would indicate an exact point where Shinobu is standing, for example: 真ん中 (man'naka) meaning "middle"; unlike the に particle, で puts emphasis on the location of the action as if there's an arrow pointing at this exact spot.
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橋の真ん中でしのぶが立っている
hashi no man'naka de shinobu ga tatteiru
Shinobu is standing in the middle of bridge
橋を (hashi o)
This uses the particle を (o) which is commonly used to mark the path of a movement verb. In this sentence, 橋を (hashi o) would mean "across the bridge" indicating that the bridge is the target of the action; two possible verbs here could be 渡る (wataru) meaning "to cross over" and 歩く (to walk).
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橋をしのぶが渡って歩いた
hashi o shinobu ga watatte aruita
Shinobu walked across the bridge
Lesson Dictionary
橋
hashi
bridge
行く
iku
to go; to move (towards); to head (towards); to leave (for)
学校
gakkou
school
いる
iru
to be (of animate objects); to exist
勉強
benkyou
study
廊下
rouka
corridor; hallway; passageway
歩く
aruku
to walk
立つ
tatsu
to stand (in a position; of a person, tree, building, etc.); to be situated (in, on)
真ん中
man'naka
middle; centre; midpoint; heart
渡る
wataru
to cross over; to go across
Additional Notes
Some words may have different meanings or expressions so check out online dictionaries such as japandict.com or jisho.org to find out more.
These example sentences may be presented in an unnatural or artificial way. Continue to broaden your research and listen to how real Japanese native people speak. It's important to make sure you have many other resources to use. Do not rely on this website alone.
Related Lessons and References
Here is a list of other pages as a reference of what else you may be interested in reading: