Particles: De
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What are particles?
Particles are probably one of the most difficult and
confusing aspects of Japanese sentences. A particle (joshi) is a word that shows the
relationship of a word, a phrase, or a clause to the rest of the sentence. Some particles have English equivalents. Others have functions similar to
English prepositions, but since they always follow the word or words they mark,
they are post-positions. There are also particles that have a peculiar usage which is not found
in English. Most particles are multi-functional. Click here to learn more about particles.
The Particle "De"
Place of Action
It indicates the place where an action takes place. It translates into "in", "at", "on", and so on.
Depaato de
kutsu o katta.
デパートで靴を買った。 |
I bought
shoes
at the department store. |
Umi de oyoida.
海で泳いだ。 |
I swam in the
ocean.
|
Means
It indicates means, method, or instruments. It translates into "by", "with", "in" "by means of", etc.
Basu de
gakkou ni ikimasu.
バスで学校に行きます。 |
I go to
school by bus.
|
Nihongo de
hanashite kudasai.
日本語で話してください。 |
Please speak
in Japanese.
|
Totalizing
It is placed after a quantity, time or amount of
money, and indicates an extent.
San-nin de kore o tsukutta.
三人でこれを作った。 |
Three of us
made this.
|
Zenbu de sen-en desu.
全部で千円です。 |
They cost
1,000 yen altogether.
|
Scope
It translates into "in", "among", "within", etc.
Kore wa sekai
de
ichiban ookii desu. これは世界で一番大きいです。 |
This is the
biggest in the world.
|
Nihon de doko
ni ikitai desu ka.
日本でどこに行きたいですか。 |
Where do you
want to go
in Japan? |
Time Limit
It indicates time consumed for a certain action or occurrence. It translates into "in", "within", etc.
It indicates time consumed for a certain action or occurrence. It translates into "in", "within", etc.
Ichijikan de
ikemasu.
一時間で行けます。 |
We can get
there in an hour.
|
Isshuukan de
dekimasu.
一週間でできます。 |
I can do it
in a week.
|
Material
It indicates the composition of an object.
Toufu wa
daizu de tsukurimasu.
豆腐は大豆で作ります。 |
Tofu is made
from soybeans.
|
Kore wa nendo
de tsukutta
hachi desu. これは粘土で作ったはちです。 |
This is a bowl
made of clay.
|
Required Cost
It translates into "for", "at", etc.
It translates into "for", "at", etc.
Kono hon o
juu-doru de katta.
この本を十ドルで買った。 |
I bought this
book for ten dollars.
|
Kore wa ikura
de okuremasu ka.
これはいくらで送れますか。 |
How much
would it cost
to send this? |
Cause
It indicates a casual reason or motive for an action
or occurrence. It translates into "due to", "because of", "owing to", etc.
Kaze de
gakkou o yasunda.
風邪で学校を休んだ。 |
I was absent
from school
due to a cold. |
Fuchuui de
kaidan kara ochita.
不注意で階段から落ちた。 |
I fell down
the stairs
due to carelessness. |
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