KAKUJOSHI with English subtitle, The Perfect Guidebook on Japanese Grammar in Easy Japanese

Chapter 1　格助詞 KAKUJOSHI Japanese particles 「場面で教える日本語の文法」 －『使える日本語文法ガイドブック』－
作成　柏木あい、監修　中西久実子　京都外国語大学　Kyoto University of Foreign Studies


A mother and a girl are talking.
It's almost noon. What are we going to have for lunch?


Mmm. I want to eat sushi. I'll eat it.
Huh? This conversation is a little weird. What is strange?

That's right. If you look closely, there are no particles.
What kind of particle do you use? It's "I want to eat sushi.

How about eating at Namba?

Is it "Eat at Namba"?
Is it "Eat with Namba"? Is it "Eat Namba"?

If you eat at Namba, it means to eat at a place called Namba.
To eat with Namba means to eat with a person named Namba.
To eat Namba means to eat a food named Namba.


There are several types of particles, but what kind of particle is "de," "and," and "ga"?
That's right. It is a case particle.

A case particle is a particle that connects a noun to a predicate, such as a verb or adjective.

In the case of the previous example, eating with Namba, and eating with Osushi, but
We use particles to describe how they are related.

Your mother said, "What are you going to do for lunch?" also doesn't have a particle.
If you use a particle, it's "What are you going to do for lunch?

The "ha" is not a case particle, but a different kind of particle called focus particle.

If a girl says she is going to eat in Namba, she uses the case particle "de", so the noun Namba represents a place to perform the verb "to eat".

When girls talk about playing with Namba, they use the case particle "to", so the noun Namba represents a partner who performs the verb playing together.

In other words, each case particle has a meaning that it represents.
Let's take a look at some examples of their meanings.

I study at university I study with a pencil I study by myself.

The noun "university" in "I'll study at university" represents the place where you study.

The noun "pencil" in "I'll study with a pencil" represents instrument by which you study.

The "de" in "I'll study alone" indicates that the noun "alone" is the quantity or number of people who perform the verb "I'll study".

As you can see, the same case particle can be used in different ways.
Let's look at the meaning of "de" some more.

We'll make it out of wood, we'll stop because of the rain, we'll be done in three days.
These also use the case particle "by," but they have a different meaning than the previous three.

The "de" in "I'll make it out of wood" indicates that "wood" is the material for "I'll make it.
The "in" in "canceled by rain" indicates that the noun "rain" is the cause or reason for "it's canceled".

The "in" in "I'll be done in three days" indicates that "three days" is the period of time in which "I'll be done.
These are the six meanings of the case particle "de" that you will learn at beginner level.

I'm going to college, I'm in college, I'm in college, both use the case particle 'ni'

The "ni" in "I'm going to university" indicates that the noun "university" is the arrival point of the verb "I'm going".
On the other hand, the "ni" in "I am at the university" indicates that the noun "university" is the place where the verb "I am" exists.

I will give it to my father. I give it to my father, also using the case particle "ni".

Turned red.
I get up at 7:00 a.m. and use the case particle "ni.

The "ni" in "turn to red" indicates that the result of the change in the verb "change" is the noun "red.
The "ni" in "rise at 7 o'clock" indicates that the time of the verb "rise" is the noun "7 o'clock.

there is a chair. What particles would you use in this sentence?
Yes, you should use "ni".

This is because the noun "room" refers to the place where the verb "arimasu" exists.
'De' cannot be used in this sentence because 'de' denotes the place where the predicate verb or adjective operates.

There's a school library. What's the particle? Yes, it's "ni.
And finally, "I read a school book." What's the particle? Yes, it's "de.
As you can see, the nouns that use "ni," "to" and "de" are the same place, but the meaning is slightly different.
Since "ni" denotes "a place that exists," it is used with verbs such as "to be," "to be," "to dwell," and "to stop.
Since "de" indicates a place of action, such as "to study," "to eat," "to read," etc.　
It is associated with verbs in motion.
The "Osaka" in "I'm going to Osaka" was the point of arrival, wasn't it? Then, how about "I'm going to Osaka"
This indicates the direction of moving.
I'm going to Osaka" and "I'm going to Osaka" have almost the same meaning.

Then, how about "putting up a poster on the wall"? Again, "wall" represents "arrival point".
However, since the wall and the poster are attached to each other, they are not moving.
Therefore, you can't use "to" to indicate the direction of movement.
Then, how about "putting up a poster on the wall"? Again, "wall" represents "arrival point".
However, since the wall and the poster are attached to each other, they are not moving.