ISORI

に

JLPT N5:

destination

Marks where you go or arrive: "to X", "into X", "onto X".

How to form it

  • Put に after the place with verbs of movement, such as 行(い)く, 来(く)る, 帰(かえ)る (go home), 着(つ)く (arrive) and 入(はい)る (enter).
  • It also marks what you get into or onto: 電車(でんしゃ)に乗(の)る (get on the train), 椅子(いす)に座(すわ)る (sit on a chair).

Examples

来年(らいねん)、日本(にほん)に行(い)きます。

I'm going to Japan next year.

駅(えき)に着(つ)きました。

I've arrived at the station.

Notes

  • へ also marks where you go. に points at the destination itself and へ at the direction of travel, but for most trips both are correct.
  • The ます-stem + に before a movement verb gives the purpose of going: 映画(えいが)を見(み)に行(い)く (go to see a movie).

Common mistakes

  • Using で for the destination. Say 学校(がっこう)に行(い)く, not 学校(がっこう)で行(い)く.

Similar meaning

  • へdirection

    Marks the direction of travel; usually interchangeable with に for destinations.

Same form, different meaning