Japanese particles for Spanish readers

The idea

In 図書館で勉強します, で marks where an action takes place; 図書館に行きます uses に for the destination. With います, に marks where someone exists. に also marks a recipient, と a companion, を a direct object and は a topic. Spanish “en” or “a” does not always map to one particle: choose by the Japanese verb and meaning.

Examples

• 図書館としょかんで日本語にほんごを勉強べんきょうします。I study Japanese at the library.
• 図書館としょかんに行いきます。I go to the library.
• 公園こうえんに猫ねこがいます。There is a cat in the park.
• 友達ともだちとコーヒーを飲のみます。I drink coffee with a friend.
• 友達ともだちに本ほんをあげます。I give my friend a book.
• この本ほんはおもしろいです。As for this book, it is interesting.

Watch out

Do not use で for the location of existence with います, or assume every Spanish “a” becomes に. は marks a topic, not necessarily the grammatical subject.

Try it yourself

1. 図書館としょかん＿日本語にほんごを勉強べんきょうします。（で／に）

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   で

   で marks the place where studying happens.

2. 公園こうえん＿猫ねこがいます。（で／に）

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   に

   に marks the location where the cat exists with います.

3. 友達ともだち＿本ほんをあげます。（に／と）

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   に

   に marks the friend receiving the book.

4. 友達ともだち＿コーヒーを飲のみます。（に／と）

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   と

   と marks the friend accompanying the speaker for coffee.

Use it today

Say each example aloud, identify the verb, then choose a particle for each blank.