destination, target, time-point, indirect object, location of existence
Form: noun + に + (verb). Also stacks on other particles: にも, には.
Meaning: the target of the action, or the point at which something exists — a destination, a moment in time, a recipient, or a location.
Key uses:
- Destination of movement: 東京に行く go to Tokyo, 家に帰る return home.
- Point in time: 8時に会う meet at 8, 月曜日に来る come on Monday. Only clock times, dates, days — not vague words like 今日 today or 昨日 yesterday (those take no particle).
- Indirect object (recipient): 彼に本をあげる give the book to him, 母に電話する call my mother.
- Location of existence with ある / いる: 公園に子供がいる there's a child in the park, 机の上に本がある there's a book on the desk.
- Purpose of movement: verb-stem + に + motion verb. 買い物に行く go shopping, 映画を見に行く go to see a movie.
vs. で: に = destination or static location (existence). で = location where an action happens. 学校に行く go to school (destination); 学校で勉強する study at school (action).
vs. へ: near-interchangeable for direction. に stresses arrival, へ stresses the heading. In everyday speech に is dominant.
Furigana is above every kanji; the pattern is already filled in.
学校＿＿行きます。
I go to school. (destination)
7時＿＿起きます。
I wake up at 7. (specific time-point)
友達＿＿手紙を書きました。
I wrote a letter to my friend. (indirect object)