You already know は (topic), を (object), and から/まで (from/to). Now meet three new particles: へ, に, and で. These three are easy to confuse because they all relate to "places" — but each one has its own job.
へ: Direction (Toward Where)
へ indicates the direction of movement. It's pronounced え (not "he") and attaches to a location:
学校へ行きます。 → I'm going to school. (Heading toward school)
家へ帰ります。 → I'm going home. (Heading toward home)
へ pairs with movement verbs: 行きます (go), 来ます (come), 帰ります (return).
| Japanese | Breakdown | English |
|---|---|---|
| 兄は家へ帰ります。 | 兄 (older brother) は + 家 (home) へ + 帰ります (return) | My older brother goes home. |
| 妹は学校へ行きます。 | 妹 (younger sister) は + 学校 (school) へ + 行きます (go) | My younger sister goes to school. |
| 日本へ来ました。 | 日本 へ + 来ました (came) | I came to Japan. |
に: Destination / Time Point (Arriving Where)
に can also mark where you're going, but it emphasizes the arrival point rather than the direction. In many cases, へ and に are interchangeable:
学校に行きます。 ≈ 学校へ行きます。 → I'm going to school.
What's the difference?
| Particle | Focus | Example |
|---|---|---|
| へ | Direction (heading that way) | 東京へ行きます (heading toward Tokyo) |
| に | Destination (arriving there) | 東京に行きます (going to Tokyo) |
In everyday conversation, the difference is minimal — either works. Textbooks and exams use both.
に also has a function that へ cannot do: marking time points (covered in the word order article).
七時に起きます。 → I wake up at 7:00. 月曜日に会議があります。 → There's a meeting on Monday.
で: Means / Location of Action (How / Where You Do Something)
で is completely different from the other two — it doesn't indicate direction or destination. Instead, it marks the means of doing something or the place where an action happens.
Usage 1: Transportation
"How you get there" uses で:
バスで学校へ行きます。 → I go to school by bus.
電車で東京へ行きます。 → I go to Tokyo by train.
歩いて学校へ行きます。 → I walk to school.
Note: "Walking" doesn't use 「足で」 — instead you say 歩いて (on foot / walking).
| Transport | Japanese | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Bus | バスで | バスで行きます |
| Train | 電車で | 電車で行きます |
| Taxi | タクシーで | タクシーで帰ります |
| Bicycle | 自転車で | 自転車で来ます |
| Walking | 歩いて | 歩いて行きます |
Usage 2: Location of an Action
"Where you do something" also uses で:
教室で勉強します。 → I study in the classroom.
レストランで昼ごはんを食べます。 → I eat lunch at a restaurant.
家でテレビを見ます。 → I watch TV at home.
Comparing All Three
One sentence to remember:
| Particle | Function | Pairs With | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| へ (read え) | Direction | Location + movement verb | 東京へ行きます |
| に | Destination / time | Location + movement verb / time | 東京に行きます / 七時に起きます |
| で | Means / place of action | Transport / place where you do things | バスで行きます / 教室で勉強します |
Combine all three in one sentence:
妹はバスで学校へ行きます。 → My younger sister goes to school by bus.
Breakdown: 妹 (sister) は + バス (bus) で (means) + 学校 (school) へ (direction) + 行きます (go).
私は毎日電車で会社に行きます。 → I go to work by train every day.
Breakdown: 私 は + 毎日 (every day) + 電車 で (means) + 会社 に (destination) + 行きます (go).
Common Pitfalls
Pitfall 1: Mixing up で and に
"Playing in the park" → 公園で遊びます (place of action → で) "Being in the park" → 公園にいます (location of existence → に)
The distinction: use で when there's an action; use に for simple existence.
Pitfall 2: Forgetting へ is pronounced え
When へ is used as a particle, it's always read え. Even in letter addressing like 山田さんへ (To Mr. Yamada), it's read え.
Summary
- へ (read え): direction — "toward where." Pairs with movement verbs (行きます / 帰ります / 来ます)
- に: destination + time points. Often interchangeable with へ, but に can also mark time
- で: means (バスで) + place of action (教室で). Use で when there's an action happening
- All three can combine: バスで + 学校へ + 行きます
Practice Quiz
Q1. Fill in the particles: 「私は電車（ ）会社（ ）行きます。」
Show Answer
私は電車（で）会社（へ/に）行きます。
Train is the means of transport → で. Company is the destination → へ or に (both work).
Q2. How do you say "I read books at the library" in Japanese? (library = 図書館, read books = 本を読みます)
Show Answer
図書館で本を読みます。
The library is where the action (reading) happens → use で. It's not about "existing at the library" — it's about "doing something there."
Q3. Which sentence is correct? A. 学校で行きます。 B. 学校へ行きます。
Show Answer
B. 学校へ行きます。
"Going to school" involves movement, which requires へ or に for direction/destination. で marks means or place of action — it can't pair with a pure movement verb like 行きます.