JapaneseJLPT
JLPT N5 grammar · Chapter 4

に (destination)

Where you’re going or arriving

You’ll be able to say where you’re heading or arriving when talking about movement.

Illustration of the scene described by I’m going to Tokyo tomorrow.
Read it first

明日あした、東京とうきょうに行いきます。

ashita, toukyou ni ikimasu.

What do you think this sentence means?

I’m going to Tokyo tomorrow.

Why it means that

Mark the destination of movement

Use に to mark the place someone or something moves to, especially with verbs such as 行いく, 来くる, and 帰かえる.

Example

学校がっこうに行いきます。

gakkou ni ikimasu.

I go to school.

How it is built

Destination + に + movement verb

Place に focuses on the destination or arrival point of the movement.

Place+に+行く/来る/帰る
Examples

日本にほんに行いきます。

nihon ni ikimasu.

I will go to Japan.

家いえに帰かえります。

ie ni kaerimasu.

I will go home.

友達ともだちが東京とうきょうに来きます。

tomodachi ga toukyou ni kimasu.

My friend is coming to Tokyo.

Compare

に for destination vs で for place of action

に marks the destination where your movement ends. で marks the location where an action takes place.

  • に, destination

    図書館としょかんに行いきます。

    toshokan ni ikimasu.

    I go to the library.

    図書館 is the destination you are traveling to.

  • で, action location

    図書館としょかんで勉強べんきょうします。

    toshokan de benkyou shimasu.

    I study at the library.

    図書館 is the setting where the studying happens.

Examples

毎朝まいあさ、学校がっこうに行いきます。

maiasa, gakkou ni ikimasu.

I go to school every morning.

明日あした、東京とうきょうに行いきます。

ashita, toukyou ni ikimasu.

I will go to Tokyo tomorrow.

日曜日にちようびに公園こうえんに行きいきます。

nichiyoubi ni kouen ni ikimasu.

I will go to the park on Sunday.

13 more examples in the grammar path — free for a limited time.