KANAKUMA

JLPT N5 · Particles: roles and direction

手段／材料／言語で

Marks a means, material, or language

Meaning

Marks a means, material, or language.

Formation

  1. Means, material or language: 電車で, 箸で, 日本語で

When to use it

Core use
Marks a means, material, or language

Examples

13 sentences

  • 電車でんしゃで学校がっこうへ行きいきます

    I go to school by train.

  • 箸はしでご飯ごはんを食べたべます

    I eat rice with chopsticks.

  • 母ははと電話でんわで話しましたはなしました

    I talked with my mother on the phone.

  • 空港くうこうへバスで行きいきます

    I will go to the airport by bus.

  • この書類しょるいはペンで書いかいてください

    Please fill in this document with a pen.

  • 友達ともだちと日本語にほんごで話しはなします

    I speak with my friend in Japanese.

  • ナイフでりんごを切りきります

    I will cut the apple with a knife.

  • 紙かみで箱はこを作りつくりました

    I made a box out of paper.

5 more examples

  • この写真しゃしんは携帯電話けいたいでんわで撮りとりました

    I took this photo with my mobile phone.

  • 手紙てがみは航空便こうくうびんで送りおくります

    I will send the letter by airmail.

  • スプーンでスープを飲みのみます

    I eat soup with a spoon.

  • カードで払っはらってもいいですか

    May I pay by card?

  • 木きで小さなちいさな椅子いすを作りつくりました

    I made a small chair out of wood.

Important notes

  • で names a vehicle, tool, material or language: 電車で行く, 箸で食べる, 日本語で話す. 一人で (alone) and みんなで (all together) also use で.

Common mistakes

  • For 'go on foot', learn 歩いて行く. 歩きで行く is also possible, using the noun 歩き. Compare 電車で行く (go by train) with 電車に乗る (get on a train): the verb decides the particle.

Check yourself

Pick the translation of each sentence. The wrong options translate similar patterns, so watch the grammar rather than the words.

  1. この写真しゃしんは携帯電話けいたいでんわで撮りとりました
  2. スプーンでスープを飲みのみます
  3. 木きで小さなちいさな椅子いすを作りつくりました

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