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If に and で still feel confusing, this beginner Japanese grammar guide gives a clear, simple way to tell them apart. The lesson focuses on three core ideas: に for destination or arrival point, に for place of existence, and で for the place where an action happens.

You’ll hear practical examples such as going to school, going back home, wanting to go to Japan, and describing where a person or car exists. The video also shows how で fits action verbs like studying and buying, using school and supermarket situations that are easy to remember. A short quiz at the end helps check whether you can choose the right particle in context.

This is a straightforward Japanese lesson for beginners, ideal for grammar review, self-study, and anyone learning Japanese particles in a simple, everyday way. The explanations are short, direct, and designed to make Japanese sentence patterns easier to understand.

Best for viewers searching Japanese particles explained, difference between ni and de, Japanese grammar lesson, beginner Japanese tutorial, and simple Japanese study guide. Useful for JLPT foundation practice, basic conversation support, and quick review of destination, existence, and action particles in Japanese.

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Transcript
00:00Hi everyone in the world!
00:01Yahoo!
00:03Mochi-sensei.
00:04Today, I want to explain about difference between ni and de.
00:11I see many people are getting confused by these two particles.
00:17It's similar, but the meaning is totally different.
00:20So yeah, let me explain.
00:22Let's get started.
00:24Hajimeyo.
00:25So let's begin from the particle ni.
00:29Destination or the arrival point is shown by ni.
00:33For example,
00:34Gakkou ni iku.
00:38Gakkou ni iku.
00:41And it means go to school.
00:44Gakkou ni iku.
00:46So your arrival point is gakkou in this sentence.
00:51So that's why we use the particle ni.
00:54Gakkou ni iku.
00:56Ie ni kaeru.
00:58Ie ni kaeru.
01:01This means to go back to home.
01:04Ie is home or house.
01:08Kaeru is to go back or to get back or to come back.
01:13Kaeru.
01:14And also, place of existence is shown by ni.
01:18For example,
01:19Asoko.
01:19Asoko ni hito ga iru.
01:25Asoko ni hito ga iru.
01:29Or.
01:30Asoko ni kuruma ga aru.
01:35Asoko ni kuruma ga aru.
01:40In these two sentences,
01:43Asoko is where something exists.
01:46So we have to use the particle ni, a place of existence.
01:50Let's do from asoko ni hito ga iru.
01:53Hito means a person.
01:56Ga iru.
01:58These iru and aru are showing existence.
02:02We use iru for breathing or living animals or humans.
02:07And aru for an animated object.
02:09So, the first sentence,
02:12There's a person over there.
02:14Asoko ni hito ga iru.
02:17And the second one,
02:20Kuruma means a car.
02:22And we have to use aru.
02:25Because kuruma is not living.
02:28It's just an object.
02:29So,
02:30Asoko ni kuruma ga aru.
02:33Means there's a car over there.
02:36When you want to say,
02:37I want to go to Japan.
02:40You can say,
02:41Nihon ni ikitai desu.
02:46Nihon ni ikitai desu.
02:50Nihon, Japan.
02:52The destination where you want to go.
02:55So we use the particle ni.
02:58Ikitai means I want to go.
03:01Want to go.
03:03Ikitai.
03:03Something.
03:05Shitai means I want to.
03:07Nihon ni ikitai desu.
03:11And next,
03:12I'm gonna explain about the particle de.
03:16The place of the action is shown by de.
03:21For example,
03:22Nihon de sushi wo taberu.
03:27Nihon de sushi wo taberu.
03:32So in this sentence,
03:34Sushi wo taberu is an action verb.
03:37Eat a sushi.
03:39And where?
03:40In Japan.
03:41So as I just said,
03:43The place of the action is shown by de.
03:46Nihon de sushi wo taberu.
03:50Did you get it?
03:51Let's do a little bit more.
03:53Let's see these two sentences.
03:55We just did
03:57Gakkou ni iku.
04:00Gakkou is school.
04:02Iku is to go.
04:04Gakkou is just an arrival point where you go.
04:08So Gakkou ni iku.
04:10We have to use ni.
04:11But Gakkou de benkyou suru.
04:16Gakkou de benkyou suru.
04:19Benkyou suru.
04:21To study.
04:21Which is an action verb.
04:24And Gakkou is a place to study.
04:26So we're gonna use the particle de in this sentence.
04:31Gakkou de benkyou suru.
04:35Study at school.
04:36So let's do some quiz.
04:39Please guess which particle will fit in this sentence.
04:43Super.
04:46Kaimono wo suru.
04:51Kaimono wo suru.
04:53Super is supermarket.
04:56Cause Japanese love to shorten the words.
04:59And Kaimono wo suru means to buy.
05:04Yes, the answer is de.
05:07Because Kaimono wo suru.
05:09To buy is an action verb.
05:12And where?
05:13At supermarket.
05:14So the particle is de.
05:17Then how about suupa iku.
05:22Suupa iku.
05:25Yes, the answer is ni.
05:28Because suupa, supermarket, is destination where you go.
05:34So we have to use the particle ni.
05:37So again, destination or the arrival point is shown by ni.
05:43And also a place of existence is shown by ni.
05:48And the place of the action is shown by de.
05:52It's a little confusing but it's quite simple.
05:55So please remember this.
05:56Alright guys, thank you for watching my video.
06:00And please subscribe.
06:02I hope to see you guys in next video.
06:04Bye!
06:05Bye!

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