Q: What are the Japanese direction particles?

The Japanese direction particles are に (ni) and へ (he). - に and へ are both used as in “to” with pure motion verbs (to go, to return, to leave, etc) - に marks the receiver of something. - に needs a pure motion verb if a verb describing how movement happens is used (to swim, to walk, etc) whereas へ doesn’t. - へ can be used without a verb. - へ is used for welcoming, letter writing, and titles.

Q: What are the Japanese location particles?

The Japanese location particles are に ni and で de. に is used for the state of existing or being somewhere. に is also used for time, helping set the scene of a verb. で is used to mark the location of an action. -- Learn more about Japanese location particles .

Q: What is the Japanese possessive particle?

The Japanese possession particle is の (no). We add the particle の to show the possession of something. It is like adding ‘s to the end of a word. 彼の帽子 kare no boushi | His hat 犬の毛 inu no ke | Dog’s fur -- Learn more about the Japanese possessive particle .

Question 1

What are the Japanese direction particles?

Accepted Answer

The Japanese direction particles are に (ni) and へ (he).

- に and へ are both used as in “to” with pure motion verbs (to go, to return, to leave, etc)

- に marks the receiver of something.

- に needs a pure motion verb if a verb describing how movement happens is used (to swim, to walk, etc) whereas へ doesn’t.

- へ can be used without a verb.

- へ is used for welcoming, letter writing, and titles.

Question 2

How to use に (ni)?

Accepted Answer

Most verbs to do with motion (to go, to walk, to go home, etc) are paired with に ni, and many verbs that pair with words like “to” or “on” in English are paired with に ni (to sit down, to get on, to go in, etc).

Also, recipients are marked with に ni in sentences describing giving or receiving:

学校に行きました。Gakkou ni ikimashita. I went to school.

日本に行く。 Nihon ni iku. I’m going to go to Japan.

Question 3

How to use へ (he)?

Accepted Answer

When used as a particle へ he is pronounced え e (from now on it will be written as へ e in this article).

へ is like に in that it is used with verbs of motion.

Most sentences with a motion verb which use に ni can use へ e instead.

学校へ行きました。 Gakkou e ikimashita. I went to school.

Alongside the use with motion, へ can also be used when welcoming someone somewhere:

イギリスへようこそ！ Igirisu e youkoso! Welcome to England!

へ is also used to start a letter:

田中さんへ Tanaka san e To Mr Tanaka,

Question 4

What are the Japanese location particles?

Accepted Answer

The Japanese location particles are に ni and で de.

に is used for the state of existing or being somewhere.

に is also used for time, helping set the scene of a verb.

で is used to mark the location of an action.

--

Learn more about Japanese location particles.

Question 5

What is the Japanese possessive particle?

Accepted Answer

The Japanese possession particle is の (no).

We add the particle の to show the possession of something. It is like adding ‘s to the end of a word.

彼の帽子 kare no boushi | His hat

犬の毛 inu no ke | Dog’s fur

--

Learn more about the Japanese possessive particle.

Question 6

Where to learn more Japanese grammar?

Accepted Answer

You can learn more grammar like this in our Japanese Grammar Bank.

If you'd like to study with a teacher, you should have a look at our online lessons on Flexi Classes (we even have a 7 day free trial!)

Would you rather study Japanese in Japan? We offer group and individual classes in Tokyo.

Grammar Point	Pattern	Example
Direction particles に and へ	Noun + に	学校に行きました。
Japanese prepositions: in, at, on	[Object or Person] + うしろに + [Reference Point]	机のうしろに本があります
How to make the Japanese Te form (て)	ある → あって
Connecting sentences with て form	V te-form 1, V te-form 2, ~	レストランに行って、昼食を食べます。
How to say "with" with と, 一緒に & と共に	Noun + と	彼は猫と暮らしています。
How to say "and" with と & し	Noun 1 + と + Noun 2	彼女は猫と犬を飼っている
How to say "because" with から, ので & more	なぜなら + Phrase + から / ので	なぜならアレルギーがありますので。
This & that with これ, それ and more	これ / それ / あれ + は何ですか?	それは鉛筆です
Expressing emphasis in Japanese	とても + Adjective / Verb	とても美しい。
Expressing together in Japanese	Subject + (と)一緒に + Verb	来週の試験のために一緒に勉強しました。
Give & ask for directions in Japanese	これ + Noun	これはいくらでうか。
Relative quantities in Japanese	-	非常に, 全然, 普通 & more

Japanese Grammar Bank

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