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文法 · JLPT N5 grammar
で
de · at, in (where an action happens); by, with (means)
で marks where an action happens and the means you use to do it: by bus, with chopsticks, in Japanese.
How to form it
| Place + で + action | 図書館で勉強します。 |
| Means + で | バスで行きます。 |
How it is used
You study で the library, but the books are に the library: で is for actions, に for existence.
Means covers transport (電車で), tools (はしで) and languages (日本語で). It also marks a total: 「三つで五百円です」, 500 yen for the three.
Examples
Tap a kanji for its reading.
- 図書館で本を読みます。I read books at the library.
- 電車で会社に行きます。I go to work by train.
- はしで食べます。I eat with chopsticks.
- 日本語で話しましょう。Let's speak in Japanese.
Common mistake
- ✗ 公園にサッカーをします。✓ 公園でサッカーをします。Playing is an action, so the place takes で.