Lesson 9: Going and Coming: Transport and the Particles へ, で, に

Getting around is daily life in Japan: trains, buses, bicycles. This lesson teaches you to say where you are going, how, and with whom.

Three verbs of movement

Where to: へ (or に)

(place) へ いきます / きます / かえります

へ is read e. に can replace へ with these verbs with almost the same meaning.

By what: で

Put で after the vehicle: でんしゃで いきます (I go by train). On foot is special: あるいて. Ask with なんで.

With whom: と

と means "with" (and also "and" between nouns). Alone is ひとりで.

From … to … and how long it takes

Do not confuse ichiji (1 o'clock) with ichijikan (1 hour). Add かん for duration of hours. Minutes are the same as the clock minutes (にじゅっぷん).

Places to go

Kanji spotlight

Dialogue: commuting

Every ▶ button plays a clear computer voice, which is good for learning sounds and rhythm but is not a native speaker. Pitch (the rise and fall of the voice) can sound a little flat. Also listen to real Japanese as often as you can: videos, news for learners (NHK Easy), and Japanese people around you.

Check yourself

Try to answer every question before you look at the answers.

1. Say "I go to school."
2. Say "I go by train."
3. What is "on foot" in Japanese?
4. Say "I go with a friend."
5. Say "I go alone."
6. Ask "How long does it take?"
7. What is the difference between いちじ and いちじかん?
8. Which particle marks the vehicle?
9. Read: 電車
10. Ask "Where are you going?"

Answers

Count your correct answers. If you got fewer than 7 out of 10, read the lesson again and listen to the audio once more.

1. がっこうへ いきます。
2. でんしゃで いきます。
3. あるいて.
4. ともだちと いきます。
5. ひとりで いきます。
6. どのくらい かかりますか。
7. 1 o'clock vs 1 hour.
8. で.
9. でんしゃ.
10. どこへ いきますか。