Place of an action and means: で
Place で + action verb／Means で
Place で + action = where the action happens. Means で = with what, by what (バスで, 日本語で). For “being somewhere”, it's に.
In short
で says where an action takes place (“がっこうで べんきょうします” = I study at school), or what you do it with (“でんしゃで” = by train). Don't confuse it with に, which marks existence or destination.
- がっこうで 日本語を はなします。gakkō de nihongo o hanashimasuI speak Japanese at school.
- 店で 本を かいます。mise de hon o kaimasuI buy a book at the shop.
- はしで たべます。hashi de tabemasuI eat with chopsticks.
Where an action happens
で after a place says where an action happens: you eat, work or study somewhere. It's the “at” or “in” of an activity.
- レストランで 食べます。resutoran de tabemasuI eat at a restaurant.
- としょかんで べんきょうします。toshokan de benkyō shimasuI study at the library.
で or に?
This is the most common mix-up. に says where a thing or person is (with あります, います, すみます) or the destination. で says where an action takes place.
| Phrase | Particle | Why |
|---|---|---|
| へやに います | に | being somewhere (existence) |
| へやで べんきょうします | で | doing something there |
| 東京に 行きます | に | destination |
| 東京で はたらきます | で | place of the action |
The means: with, by, in
で also marks the means or tool: by bus, with chopsticks, in Japanese. Same idea: what the action is done with.
- バスで 学校へ 行きます。basu de gakkō e ikimasuI go to school by bus.
- 日本語で はなしましょう。nihongo de hanashimashōLet's speak in Japanese.
- はしで 食べます。hashi de tabemasuI eat with chopsticks.
Common mistakes
- Saying へやで います: for “being somewhere”, it's に.
- Saying レストランに 食べます: for the place of an action, it's で.
- Looking for “on foot” with で: you say あるいて (walking), not あしで.
5 exercises on this point
Particles to choose, sentences to put back in order, translations: marked straight away, then reviewed at the right time. This JLPT N5 point is on the Asakusa Line (Actions) of the Tokyo subway.