JLPT N1EverydaySets and lists

にand (things that go together)

Between nouns, に is an "and" for things that belong together: toast and coffee, a T-shirt and jeans. It also adds item after item as you count off a list.

朝ちょう食しょくはトーストにコーヒーで済すませた。

I made do with toast and coffee for breakfast.

彼かの女じょは白しろいブラウスに紺こんのスカートという装よそおいだった。

She was dressed in a white blouse and a navy skirt.

How to form it

Noun + に + noun（+ に + noun）

Nouns only. The whole run then works as one noun, before だ, で, という or a particle.

What it joins: Any nouns that make one set: the parts of a meal, an outfit, a scene. ご飯はんにみそ汁しる, Tシャツにジーンズ.
In old phrases: Pairings from poems, paintings and hanafuda cards: 梅うめに鶯うぐいす (plum blossom and bush warbler: a perfect match), 松まつに鶴つる (pine and crane).
Where you'll meet it: Talk about food and clothes, menus, and novels describing what someone has on.

In use

この定てい食しょくは、焼やき魚ざかなに冷ひややっこに漬つけ物ものまで付ついて千せん円えんだ。

This set meal comes with grilled fish, chilled tofu and even pickles, all for 1,000 yen.

会かい場じょうには、拍はく手しゅに歓かん声せいに笑わらい声ごえが響ひびいていた。

The hall rang with applause, cheers and laughter.

A

何なにを買かってくればいい？

What should I pick up?

B

卵たまごに牛ぎゅう乳にゅうに、あとはパンかな。

Eggs, milk, and then bread, I think.

Counting things off as they come to mind.

Which に is it?

に has many jobs. The verb tells you which.

コーヒーに砂さ糖とうを入いれた。

I put sugar in my coffee.

入いれる needs somewhere to put the sugar: "in".

昼ひるはコーヒーにケーキで済すませた。

I made do with coffee and cake for lunch.

Nothing is put anywhere. Coffee and cake are one lunch: "and".

Close neighbours

とN5

The plain "and" for any nouns. It names every item, these and nothing more, and doesn't say they go together.

今日きょうの朝ちょう食しょくはパンと卵たまごです。

Today's breakfast is bread and eggs.

やN5

"Things like A and B": a few examples, with more left unsaid.

朝あさはパンや果物くだものを食たべます。

In the morning, I eat things like bread and fruit.

にN5

The everyday に: the place where something is or ends up, the time, the person on the other end.

机つくえの上うえに鍵かぎがあります。

There is a key on the desk.

Check yourself

1In which sentence is に "and"?

Choose an answer to see why.

2Who was at the party?

パーティーには、田た中なかさんに山やま田ださんに、鈴すず木きさんまで来きていた。

Choose an answer to see why.

More sentences

夏なつ祭まつりは、浴衣ゆかたに花はな火びに屋や台たいまでそろっていて、何なん度ど行いっても飽あきない。

Yukata, fireworks, food stalls and all: I never get tired of summer festivals, however often I go.

部屋へやは本ほんに書しょ類るいに段だんボールで、足あしの踏ふみ場ばもない。

What with books, papers and cardboard boxes, there is nowhere to put your feet in the room.

秋あきの味み覚かくといえば、栗くりに柿かきに新しん米まいが思おもい浮うかぶ。

Say "the tastes of autumn" and I think of chestnuts, persimmons and the new rice.