で（場所・手段）

A1 — 助詞

Particle で — location of action and means/instrument

Can use で to indicate where actions take place and by what means

Examples

レストランで食べます。 — I eat at a restaurant.
電車で行きます。 — I go by train.

助詞A1

Particle で (Location/Means)

Particle で — location of action and means/instrument

Learning Goal

Can use で for location of action and means

Exam Skills:JLPT N5 Grammar

Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?

レストランで食べます。

I eat at a restaurant.

電車で行きます。

I go by train.

Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?

で — Location of Action & Means

で marks (1) where an action takes place and (2) by what means.

Use	Example	Meaning
Location of action	図と書しょ館かんで勉べん強きょうします。	I study at the library.
Means/transport	バスで行いきます。	I go by bus.
Instrument	箸はしで食たべます。	I eat with chopsticks.
Language	日に本ほん語ごで話はなします。	I speak in Japanese.

に vs で for location: に = where something exists/is; で = where something happens/is done.

Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

Practice Exercises

Confusing に and で for location; Using で for existence (猫がここでいます× → ここにいます○)

レストランで食べます。

I eat at a restaurant.

レストラン(restaurant) + で(location of action) + 食べます(eat) — action happens at the restaurant

電車で行きます。

I go by train.

電車(でんしゃ, train) + で(means of transport) + 行きます(go)

Practice in course

Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

A1 Course

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Put it into practice

Try a free exercise from the course

Frequently asked questions

When is で（場所・手段） used?: で marks (1) where an action takes place and (2) by what means .
How is で（場所・手段） formed?: に vs で for location: に = where something exists/is ; で = where something happens/is done .
What are common mistakes with で（場所・手段）?: Confusing に and で for location; Using で for existence (猫がここでいます× → ここにいます○)

Use

Example

Meaning

Location of action

図と書しょ館かんで勉べん強きょうします。

I study at the library.

Means/transport

バスで行いきます。

I go by bus.

Instrument

箸はしで食たべます。

I eat with chopsticks.

Language

日に本ほん語ごで話はなします。

I speak in Japanese.

Frequently asked questions

When is で（場所・手段） used?

で marks (1) where an action takes place and (2) by what means .

How is で（場所・手段） formed?

に vs で for location: に = where something exists/is ; で = where something happens/is done .

What are common mistakes with で（場所・手段）?

Confusing に and で for location; Using で for existence (猫がここでいます× → ここにいます○)