Episode 13

The Means & Action-Location Particle で

Learn で — the particle that marks where actions happen and the means by which you do things.

N5de-means-location

The final action particle: で marks where actions happen and how you do things.

What You'll Learn#

で (means/location-of-action)N5

marks where an action takes place, or the means/method used

Location of action: 部屋で宿題をします (do homework in my room). Means: 電車で行きます (go by train). Different from に — に is for existence, で is for actions.

New vocabulary: 宿題 (homework), 晩ごはん (dinner), スーパー (supermarket), 牛乳 (milk), 買う (to buy), 電車 (train), 行く (to go), 自分 (oneself), 昼ごはん (lunch), 作る (to make)

Lesson Transcript#

で for Location of Action#

に marks where things exist. で marks where actions happen:

N5home

I do homework in my room.

Neutral

部屋で宿題をします。

Casual

部屋で宿題をする。

Try in JIVX
N5food

I ate dinner at home.

Neutral

家で晩ごはんを食べました。

Casual

家で晩ごはんを食べた。

Try in JIVX
N5shopping

I bought milk at the supermarket.

Neutral

スーパーで牛乳を買いました。

Casual

スーパーで牛乳を買った。

Try in JIVX

で for Means/Method#

で also marks how you do something — by what means:

N5transport

I go to school by train.

Neutral

電車で学校に行きます。

Casual

電車で学校に行く。

Try in JIVX

で marks how (by train), に marks where to (school).

N5food

I make my own lunch.

Neutral

自分で昼ごはんを作ります。

Casual

自分で昼ごはんを作る。

Try in JIVX

自分で = "by myself" — the means is yourself.

に vs で#

| Particle | Use | Example | |----------|-----|---------| | に | Where things exist | 庭に猫がいます (there's a cat in the garden) | | で | Where actions happen | 部屋で宿題をします (I do homework in my room) | | で | By means of | 電車で行きます (go by train) |

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