Koiyuki
Because I do want this thing used from time to time, I'd like to ask something that's been on my mind ever since I started Japanese...
Just how many uses do the particles "ni" and "de" have? And if anyone would be kind enough, could you present some sample sentences for each use?
I'll be willing to see what I can do with what I know (and I happen to also have a Kodansha's Particle Dictionary with me, so if there's more uses I don't know of and such, I can also express them. If I can't create an example of my own, I may use the particle dictionary's example.
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Particles in Japanese (called Joshi or 助詞） are the fundamentals of grammar in Japanese and probably the hardest for foreigners to grasp and understand (outside of kanji, that is. xD). Probably the most confused particles (in my opinion) are ni and de because in typical daily usage in Japanese they translate usually to "at, in, or on" in English. It's pretty simple when starting to learn Japanese is easily interchange these particles when in fact most of the time cannot be interchanged (but, ni and he for example, more or less can interchange). Surprisingly the reverse is true, for the Japanese, when to use "at, on, and in" in English is very difficult.
Let me start off with de.
1. The major usage of de is when you do an action at a place. Basically, when you do something at a place, you use de. For more advanced students, chances are when using a ~teiru (～ている） (~ing) form of the verb, if you mention the place you're doing said action, chances are you use de after the place.
Examples:
Gakkou
de benkyousuru (学校で勉強する）。
I study at school/I will study
at school.
Toshokan
de hon wo yomimashita. (図書館で本を読みました。）
I read a book
at the library.
Arubaito
de souji wo shiteimasu (アルバイトで掃除をしています。）
I am cleaning
at my part-time job.
2. A second form usage of de is explained a little bit harder in the dictionary, but the short simple explanation given is easier to understand.
Basically, when having a list of things to choose from, you use this form. In English, it translates roughly as "in" or "among" depending on whatever you feel like translating it as into English.
kurasu no naka
de miyagi-san wa ichiban hayaku hashirimasu. (クラスの中で、宮城さんは一番早く走ります。）
Ms. Miyagi is the fastest runner
in our class.
Sekai no naka
de, jinkou wa doko ga ichiban ookii desu ka? (世界の中で、人口が一番大きいですか？）
In the world, which country has the most population? (granted this translation, the word for country is not present in Japanese, but for the closest meaning in English this sentence has, it is okay I think)
Another pair of usages is with time and numbers.
3. For example one usage indicates age of person at the time of something happening. In this usage, in translates to usually "at".
Kare wa rokujyuusai
de taishokushita. (彼は六十歳で退職した。）
He retired
at the age of sixty.
Musuko wa jyuuhassai
de nakunatteshimatta. (息子は十八歳で亡くなってしまった。）
My son died
at the age of eighteen.
4. Another usage is when something occurs in a certain amount of time or when there's a time limit given in a situation. During this time, it's translated usually as "in (an amount of time)".
Kono shigoto ha nijyuubun
de dekimasu ka? (この仕事は二十分で出来ますか？）
Can you do this job
in twenty minutes?
5. A very important usage (as much as #1 on this list, as it's frequently used in Japanese) is when talking about how one does something or by what means someone does something.
Basically, when you do something by using something, you use de. It usually translates as "by" in English, though "with" and other translations are possible.
Watashi wa gakkou ni densha
de kimashita. (私は学校に電車で来ました。）
I came to school
by train.
hashi
de sushi wo tabemashita. (はしで寿司を食べました。）
I ate sushi with chopsticks.
(I will continue to this later and also work on ni as well. Please be patient.)
