{"id":162,"date":"2009-12-25T04:08:14","date_gmt":"2009-12-25T08:08:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/japanese\/?p=162"},"modified":"2009-12-25T04:08:14","modified_gmt":"2009-12-25T08:08:14","slug":"the-%e3%81%b8-particle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/japanese\/the-%e3%81%b8-particle\/","title":{"rendered":"The \u3078 Particle"},"content":{"rendered":"

The \u3078<\/strong> particle indicates that one is heading or setting out to head towards a goal or direction. The \u3078<\/strong> particle is often confused with the \u306b<\/strong> particle and for a good reason. The \u3078<\/strong> and \u306b<\/strong> particle can somtimes be interchangeable and yet produce a slighly different meaning. \u306b<\/strong> is used when the destination is the final goal. However \u3078<\/strong> does not necessarily mean that the destination is the final goal. \u306b<\/strong> is much more specific. It’s kind of like saying, “I will go\u00a0TO the (actual location of the station)\u00a0station”, but \u3078<\/strong> is more ambiguous, more like “I will go\u00a0TOWARDS the station (but perhaps not at the actual station but somewhere outside it)”.<\/p>\n

There are times when \u306b<\/strong> and \u3078<\/strong> are interchangeable. For example the sentence used above is interchangeable, with only a slight (depending on the context) difference in meaning. “\u3048\u304d\u3000\u306b\u3000\u3044\u304d\u307e\u3059<\/strong>” = I will go to the station. “\u3048\u304d\u3000\u3078\u3000\u3044\u304d\u307e\u3059<\/strong>” = I will go towards the station. (\u3048\u304d<\/strong> = station. \u306b<\/strong>\/\u3078<\/strong> = ni\/he particle. \u3044\u304d\u307e\u3059<\/strong> = will go.) Also most of the time \u3078<\/strong> is pronounced as “he”, but as a particle it is pronounced as “\u3048<\/strong>“. Obviously when you’re giving directions to someone, the distinction of \u306b<\/strong> versus \u3078<\/strong> is important, but the general understanding of the sentence (not including giving directions) of the two particles are similar.<\/p>\n

\u306b<\/strong> and \u3078<\/strong> are not interchangeable in terms of time. Only \u306b<\/strong> is used for time references. (For more on the \u306b<\/strong> particle, check the blog post here: https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/japanese\/%e3%81%ab-particle\/<\/a>) For example, a sentence like this is correct with \u306b<\/strong> but not with \u3078<\/strong>: “\u308d\u304f\u3058\u3000\u306b\u3000\u305f\u3079\u307e\u3059<\/strong>” = I eat at 6 o’clock. (\u308d\u304f\u3058<\/strong> = 6 o’clock.\u3000\u306b<\/strong> = ni particle.\u3000\u305f\u3079\u307e\u3059<\/strong> = eat.) \u3078<\/strong> cannot be used in this sentence because 6 o’clock is an exact time reference. If you want to say something less exact\u00a0like “I eat around 6 o’clock” use the word \u3054\u308b<\/strong> like this, “\u308d\u304f\u3058\u3000\u3054\u308b\u3000\u305f\u3079\u307e\u3059<\/strong>”<\/p>\n

Another restriction on \u3078<\/strong> is that you must use it with a verb of motion like \u3044\u304f<\/strong> (to go) or with a destination. For example, a sentence like this can only be used with \u306b<\/strong> and not \u3078<\/strong>, “\u308f\u305f\u3057\u3000\u306e\u3000\u305b\u3093\u305b\u3044\u3000\u306b\u3000\u3042\u3044\u307e\u3059<\/strong>” = I will meet my teacher”. (\u308f\u305f\u3057<\/strong> = my.\u3000\u306e<\/strong> = no particle.\u3000\u305b\u3093\u305b\u3044<\/strong> = teacher.\u3000\u306b<\/strong> = ni particle.\u3000\u3042\u3044\u307e\u3059<\/strong> = will meet). Since \u3042\u3044\u307e\u3059<\/strong> is not a verb of motion like \u304b\u3048\u308b<\/strong> (to return) you can’t use \u3078<\/strong>. However you can say, “\u304e\u3093\u3056\u3000\u3078\u3000\u305b\u3093\u305b\u3044\u3000\u306b\u3000\u3042\u3044\u307e\u3059<\/strong>” = I will meet [my] teacher (somwhere in) Ginza. (Ginza = \u304e\u3093\u3056<\/strong>.) If you were to replace\u00a0\u306b<\/strong> with \u3078<\/strong> it would mean, “I will meet [my] teacher (at a predestined\/agreed upon destination with the teacher in) Ginza.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The \u3078 particle indicates that one is heading or setting out to head towards a goal or direction. The \u3078 particle is often confused with the \u306b particle and for a good reason. The \u3078 and \u306b particle can somtimes be interchangeable and yet produce a slighly different meaning. \u306b is used when the destination…<\/p>\n

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