Welcome to Day 29 of our 100-Day JLPT N5 Challenge!
Today, we’re focusing on the versatile particle で (de), a key component of Japanese grammar that can mean “at,” “by,” “in,” or even “because,” depending on the context.
Mastering で will help you describe where actions happen, how you do things, and why, making your Japanese more natural and confident.
Let’s dive into this beginner-friendly lesson and take another step toward acing the JLPT N5!
Main Lesson: Understanding the Particle で (De)
For JLPT N5, we’ll cover its four main uses: place of action, means or method, total amount, and reason for action.
Each use is explained with clear, unique examples in hiragana and romaji, tailored for beginners. Let’s break it down!
1. で (De) – Place of Action
で marks the location where an action takes place. The noun before で must be a place, like a school or park. This is similar to “at” or “in” in English.
Basic Structure: [Place] + で + [Action]
| Example (Hiragana) | Romaji | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| こうえん で べんきょう します。 | kouen de benkyou shimasu | I study at the park. |
| みせ で すし を たべます。 | mise de sushi o tabemasu | I eat sushi at the shop. |
- こうえん：kouen (park)
- べんきょう する：benkyou suru (to study)
- べんきょう します：benkyou shimasu (the polite way of “べんきょう する”)
- みせ：mise (shop)
- たべる：taberu (to eat)
- たべます：tabemasu (the polite way of “たべる”)
2. で (De) – Means or Method
で indicates how an action is performed, like “by,” “with,” or “via” in English.
This applies to tools, vehicles, or methods.
Basic Structure: [Method/tools] + で + [Action]
| Example (Hiragana) | Romaji | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| でんしゃ で がっこう に いきます。 | densha de gakkou ni ikimasu | I go to school by train. |
| えんぴつ で なまえ を かきます。 | enpitsu de namae o kakimasu | I write my name with a pencil. |
- でんしゃ：densha (train)
- がっこう：gakkou (school)
- いく：iku (to go)
- いきます：ikimasu (the polite way of “いく”)
- えんぴつ：enpitsu (pencil)
- なまえ：namae (name)
- かく：kaku (write)
- かきます：kakimasu (the polite way of “かく”)
3. で (De) – Total Amount
で shows the total time, money, or resources used for an action, similar to “in” or “for” in English. It’s often used with time or cost.
Basic Structure: [Amount] + で + [Action]
| Example (Hiragana) | Romaji | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| にじかん で しゅくだい を おわります。 | ni-jikan de shukudai o owarimasu | I finish my homework in two hours. |
| せんえん で りんご を かいます。 | sen-en de ringo o kaimasu | I buy apples for 1,000 yen. |
- にじかん：ni-jikan (two hours)
- しゅくだい：shukudai (homework)
- おわる：owaru (finish)
- おわります：owarimasu (the polite way of “おわる”)
- せんえん：sen-en (1,000 yen)
- りんご：ringo (apple)
- かう：kau (to buy)
- かいます：kaimasu (the polite way of “かう”)
4. で (De) – Reason for Action
で explains why something happens, like “because” or “due to” in English. It’s used with reasons like weather or health.
Basic Structure: [Reason] + で + [Action]
| Example (Hiragana) | Romaji | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| かぜ で がっこう を やすみます。 | kaze de gakkou o yasumimasu | I’m absent from school because of a cold. |
| ゆき で でんしゃ が おそくなります。 | yuki de densha ga osoku narimasu | The train is late because of snow. |
- かぜ：kaze (cold/sick)
- やすむ：yasumu (take a rest / absent)
- やすみます：yasumimasu (the polite way of “やすむ”)
- ゆき：yuki (snow)
- おそく なる：osoku naru (being late)
- おそく なります：osoku narimasu (the polite way of “おそく なる”)
Practice Section
Let’s make で stick with these interactive exercises!
JLPT N5 Particle で Quiz – Day 29
1. こうえん で べんきょう します。 (kouen de benkyou shimasu)
2. でんしゃ で がっこう に いきます。 (densha de gakkou ni ikimasu)
3. にじかん で しゅくだい を おわります。 (nijikan de shukudai o owarimasu)
4. かぜ で がっこう を やすみます。 (kaze de gakkou o yasumimasu)
5. Choose the correct Japanese sentence for: “I eat lunch at the school.”
6. Choose the correct Japanese sentence for: “I go to the shop by bus.”
7. Choose the correct Japanese sentence for: “I read a book in one hour.”
8. Choose the correct Japanese sentence for: “I canceled the trip because of rain.”
Conclusion
Today, you mastered the particle で for describing places, methods, amounts, and reasons—a key skill for JLPT N5 and daily Japanese conversations. Keep practicing to make it second nature.
Tomorrow, join us for Day 30: Mastering the Particle に (Ni) for JLPT N5.
