Learn Japanese grammar: で (de) has various meanings, including in; at; on; by; with; via; and even because.
The meaning changes based on the context of the sentence. Let’s look at some basic examples.
Meaning 1) で – place of action
Indicates the place where an action occurs. In this pattern, the preceding noun must be a location.
- 学校で日本語を勉強する。
- がっこうでにほんごをべんきょうする。
- gakkou de nihongo wo benkyou suru.
- I study Japanese at school.
Meaning 2) で – a means or method
Indicates a means or method. Similar to “by”, “with”, or “via”
- 車で行く。
- くるまでいく。
- kuruma de iku.
- I will go by/via car.
Meaning 3) で – a total amount
Indicates a total amount of something (time, money, etc).
- 1時間で終わります。
- いちじかんでおわります。
- ichijikan de owarimasu.
- I’ll finish (in total) in one hour.
Meaning 4) で – reason for action
- 病気で今日休みます。
- びょうきできょうやすみます。
- byouki de kyou yasumimasu.
- Because I’m sick, I’m taking today off..
This meaning is very similar to the grammar ので (node)
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で - Example Sentences 例文
Each example sentence includes a Japanese hint, the romaji reading, and the English translation.
Click the below red button to toggle off and and on all of the hints, and you can click on the buttons individually to show only the ones you want to see.
Example #1
じてんしゃで行きます。
Example #2
みんなで行こう！
Example #3
たまに一人でカラオケに行きます。
Example #4
なにかの理由で彼は虫が怖いんだ。
Example #5
そのシャツどこで買いました？
Example #6
駅で会いましょうね。
Example #7
ここで電話しないでください。
Example #8
どこで日本語を学びましたか？
Example #9
YouTubeで日本語を勉強します。
Vocabulary List 語彙
| Kanji 漢字 | Kana カナ | English 英語 |
|---|---|---|
| 自転車 | じてんしゃ | bicycle |
| 行く | いく | to go |
| みんな | everyone | |
| たまに | sometimes; occasionally | |
| 一人で | ひとりで | alone |
| なにか | something; for some reason | |
| 理由 | りゆう | reason |
| 虫 | むし | bug |
| 怖い | こわい | scary |
| シャツ | shirt | |
| 買う | かう | to buy |
| 駅 | えき | station |
| 会う | あう | to meet |
| 電話 | でんわ | phone; phone call |
| 日本語 | にほんご | Japanese |
| 学ぶ | まなぶ | to learn |
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