This is part of my little project in a FB group which has invited me to help them out with Japanese learning for beginners and English for Japanese speakers.
2. The Knights of Ni!
0.
Ni! Ni! Ni! Ni! Ni! Ni! And Ni!
The に (‘ni’) particle has seven distinct uses, but closely connected uses, depending
on the context.
While these seems to be very different on first sight, especially from a foreign viewpoint, like all grammar, there is a very strong connecting theme, which, once realized,
makes this grammar easy to remember.
Please note also that bad English is purposefully used in the translation of certain
sentences throughout the slides in order to better emphasis how the ‘Japanese
grammar logic’ works. This will help the learner avoid getting lost in the translation and
be better able to connect the grammatical structures.
3. Pointing AT a time
に = AT (time)
That is in this case, the particle に ‘puts its finger onto’ that specific
point in time AT which the verb takes place.
例文
9時に友達と会います・
くじにともだちとあいます。
Ku ji NI tomodachi to aimasu
(I) meet with (my) friend AT nine o’clock.
1.
4. Pointing TO a place I.
に = TO (direction)
That is in this case, the particle に ‘points its finger to’ that specific
place TOWARDS which the verb takes place.
例文
学校に行きます。
がっこうにいきます。
gakkou NI ikimasu.
(I) go TO school.
2.
5. Pointing TO a Place II.
に = TO (directed to)
に is now again ‘pointing to’ the specific place of an action, but this time
telling us where the action should be done. In other words, now we are
emphasizing the place for the verb.
例文
ここに名前を書いてください。
ここになまえをかいてください。
koko NI namae wo kaitekudasai.
Please write (your) name TO here.
3.
6. Pointing AT an Object
に = AT (s.one, s.th.)
Here, に is an indirect object marker.
This means that it now ‘points its finger at’ that specific person or thing
towards which the verb is done.
例文
よく友達に手紙を書きます。
よくともだちにてがみをかきます。
yoku tomodachi NI tegami wo kakimasu.
(I) often write letters TO (my) friend.
4.
7. Pointing AT Existence
に = AT (place of existence)
Now, に ‘points to’ the specific place of existence, with the verbs used here being
ONLY (が) ある (‘to be’ for non-living things) and (が) いる (‘to be’ for living things).
With this we are essentially saying ‘s.th./s.one exists at a given place’.
例文
いすの上に猫がいます。
いすのうえにねこがいます。
isu no ue NI neko ga imasu.
(The) cat is AT (the) top of (the) chair.
5.
8. Pointing FROM a Source
に = FROM
に is now ‘pointing to’ the specific source of an action, telling us where
the action is coming from.
例文
母にしかられた。
ははにしかられた。
haha NI shikarareta.
(I) was scolded FROM my mother.
6.
9. Pointing AT the Time Interval of a
Frequency
に= PER
This last meaning is probably the hardest one. Here, に is ‘pointing to’
the time interval in which the action takes place with a given
frequency. It has the exact same meaning and use as the English ‘per’.
例文
一週間に三十時間働きます。
いっしゅかんにさんじゅんじかんはたらきます。
isshukan NI sanjuu jikan hatarakimasu.
(I) work 30 hours PER week.
7.
10. The Secret of The Terrifying に
8.
From the wording I have used in the previous slides, you may have guessed by now what
the underlying, connective theme between the usages of the Japanese particle に
actually is.
に to describe it in the most general way, is used to 'point' a verb in different ways.
So the idea you have to remember when に is out to ‘terrify’ you again, is that it AWAYS
gives a ‘PRECISE POINTING TO A PLACE/TIME WITH OR WITHOUT DIRECTION‘.
It is something like a fusion of the English prepositions ‘at’ and ‘to’.
If you remember this rule of thumb, things become much easier to both understand and
to use.
11. Thank you for your attention
The content of these slides, while some of the examples are from the
source (see the following slide), are those I have gleaned from my
own language learning experience and are written here not only to
help me practice, but also, if possible, help others in learning
Japanese as well.
As I am also learning Japanese, any and all feedback as to the
contents of these slides would be greatly appreciated.
Please feel free to leaves comments or to contact me wherever I
publish these slides online. I would greatly appreciate constructive
criticism about my work.
9.