# に (ni): destination, time, recipient and existence

> The most versatile Japanese particle, in 4 uses: destination of motion, point in time, recipient of an action, location of existence with ある/いる.

- Page: https://www.darumoji.com/en/guide/japanese-particle-ni
- Content written by Darumoji: https://www.darumoji.com
- Published 2026-05-10

に is the most versatile of the five base particles. Its common thread: **an arrival point or a fixed point**, as opposed to the action frame marked by で.

**に (ni)**: Arrival point or fixed point

## Use 1: destination of motion

With motion verbs `行く` (いく, go), `来る` (くる, come) or `帰る` (かえる, return), `に` indicates **where you're going**.

> 学校に行く。
>
> がっこう ni いく。
>
> Go to school.

## Use 2: precise point in time

For **hours, dates, specific days**. Vague durations ("in the morning", "yesterday") don't take `に`.

> 7時に起きる。
>
> しちじ ni おきる。
>
> Wake up at 7.

## Use 3: recipient of an action

The **indirect** object: who you give to, who you speak to, who you call. In English: "to someone".

> 友達にプレゼントをあげる。
>
> ともだち ni プレゼント o あげる。
>
> Give a present to a friend.

Note the combo: `friend` is the indirect object (`に`), `present` is the direct object (`を`).

## Use 4: location of existence with ある / いる

With **existence verbs** (`ある` for objects, `いる` for living beings), `に` marks **where it exists**. Never `で` here.

> 部屋に猫がいる。
>
> へや ni ねこ ga いる。
>
> There's a cat in the room.

`猫` (ねこ) takes `が` (subject of existence), `部屋` (へや) takes `に` (place of existence).

> **The に vs で test** Ask yourself: is this an **arrival point / fixed location** (`に`) or a **place where an action unfolds** (`で`)? `公園に犬がいる` (こうえん に いぬ が いる, dog exists at the park, に) vs `公園で犬と遊ぶ` (こうえん で いぬ と あそぶ, play with the dog at the park, で).

---

## で (de): the perfect contrast with に, place of action and means.

- [Continue with で](https://www.darumoji.com/en/guide/japanese-particle-de)
- [Review を](https://www.darumoji.com/en/guide/japanese-particle-wo)