Day Fifteen: Ni

The Japanese Arrow 

Today’s particle will force you to stop thinking in English and start thinking in Japanese. At least, we hope so. 

に (ni) is used in a wide variety of situations. に shows who can do something (agent), marks location (existence, usually に is used with the existence verbs ある and いる), indicate feelings or direct of an adjective toward something, to show direction, to indicate time, to indicate source or agent, to show purpose, to show result or goal, to indicate proportion. Think of it like an arrow. に points to where something is going, when it is happening, or what time it is. —>

This means time, days, years, minutes, and etc. can all be marked and identified with に. Also, keep in mind that is can be used with specific dates. It can also be used to indicate purpose or procession. 

おおさかに いきます。

I’m going to Osaka

おとうとは ネブラスカしゅうに いる。 

My little brother is in Nebraska

ノートが ベッドに あります。 

There is a notebook in on the bed.

じゅうよんにちに やくそくが ある 

I have an appointment on the 14th

さんじに あります。 

It’s at 3:00 o’clock 

If you look at each of these sentences above the に is acting like an arrow. Osaka に Go, 3 o’clock に is etc.