GRAMMAR DETAIL
に
Follows a person or organization to mark the recipient of an object, statement, or action.
Examples
妹に花をあげました。
I gave flowers to my younger sister.
Words used
先生に質問をしました。
I asked the teacher a question.
Words used
祖母に手紙を送りました。
I sent a letter to my grandmother.
Words used
Study notes
1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning
- Structure: Add
にafter the person toward whom an object, statement, or action is directed. - Basic usage: In
祖母に手紙を送りました。, the grandmother is the letter's recipient.
2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions
- Recipient and content
- In
先生に質問をする,先生にidentifies the person asked and質問をthe content of the action. Interpret the person and content as different roles.
- In
- Direction determined by the verb
- In
妹にあげる, the younger sister receives something; in妹にもらう, she provides it. A person followed byにis not always a recipient.
- In