NihonGo
Unit 37 · Phase J

〜で

The “how / where” particle

で does a lot of work, so it gets its own unit. It marks where an action happens, and the means (しゅだん) you use — a tool, a vehicle, or a language. The big thing to remember: a place you go to takes に, but a place you do something in takes で.

がっこうで べんきょうします。

で = where the action happens.

Step 1

どうさの ばしょ

place of action (に vs で)

で marks where an action happens. Compare: がっこうに いきます (go to school) vs がっこうで べんきょうします (study at school). 🔊 Tap to hear.

〜で [どうさ]。
ばしょthe place
+
でaction here
+
どうしverb
。

で marks WHERE an action happens. Remember the contrast: a place you GO TO takes に, but a place you DO something in takes で.

Step 2

しゅだん

tool ・ means — what you use

で also marks the tool or means (しゅだん) — what you do it with. 🔊 Tap to hear.

〜で [しゅだん]。
どうぐtool / means
+
でusing…
+
どうしverb
。

で also marks the tool or means (しゅだん) — what you use to do something.

Step 3

のりもの

transportation — how you travel

A vehicle is a kind of means, so it takes で too — “by train”, “by bus”. 🔊 Tap to hear.

〜で [いく・かえる・くる]。
のりものvehicle
+
でby…
+
いく／かえる／くるgo / return / come
。

で marks how you travel — the vehicle you go by, with いく (go), かえる (return) or くる (come).

Step 4

ことば

language — what language you use

And the language you speak or write in takes で as well. 🔊 Tap to hear.

〜で [はなします]。
ことばlanguage
+
でin…
+
はなす／かくspeak / write
。

で marks the language you speak or write in.

Step 5

れんしゅう

Choose the particle

Most of these are で — but watch out for the two that aren't!

Question 1 / 6 · 0 correct

fill the blankでんしゃ◯ いきます。I go by train. (transport)
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