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JLPT N5 grammar comparison

へ (direction) vs で (place of action, means, total)

By Nihongo PathUpdated

The difference

From the へ (direction) lesson

で (place of action, means, total): で marks where an action happens, never where you go to.

Side by side

へ (direction)

e (direction) · JLPT N5

Meaning
"to / toward" — direction of movement. Pronounced え.
Formation
Place + へ + 行きます／来ます／帰りますPlace + へ + の + noun (日本への手紙)

  1. 日本へ行きます。

    にほんへ いきます。

    I am going to Japan.

  2. 駅へ歩きます。

    えきへ あるきます。

    I walk to the station.

Full lesson on へ (direction)

で (place of action, means, total)

de (place of action, means) · JLPT N5

Meaning
"at / in (where an action happens)", "by / with (means)", "in (language)", "for (total)".
Formation
Place + で + action verb (学校で勉強します)Vehicle / tool + で (電車で、ペンで)Language + で (英語で)Quantity + で (三つで五百円、一人で)

  1. レストランで昼ご飯を食べます。

    レストランで ひるごはんを たべます。

    I eat lunch at a restaurant.

  2. バスで学校へ行きます。

    バスで がっこうへ いきます。

    I go to school by bus.

Full lesson on で (place of action, means, total)

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between へ (direction) and で (place of action, means, total)?

で marks where an action happens, never where you go to.