Kotomora
JLPT N5Particle
Furigana

Direction marker

Marks the direction or destination toward which someone or something moves. It often appears with verbs meaning go, come, return, proceed, or head toward.

What it emphasizes

points toward a goal. It is especially natural when the sentence presents movement in a direction rather than focusing tightly on reaching an endpoint.

Common movement

らいげつ日本にほんきます。

I am going to Japan next month.

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ともだちこちらへます。

A friend is coming this way.

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明日あしたいえかえります。

I will return home tomorrow.

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Questions and noun modifiers

Use どこへ to ask about direction. Before a noun, add after the particle.

なつやすみはどこへきますか。

Where are you going for summer vacation?

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きょうへのりょこうけいかくしています。

I am planning a trip to Kyoto.

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Direction versus endpoint

With common travel verbs, both and can mark the goal. The first points toward the direction of travel; the second more directly marks an endpoint and also has uses with arrival and placement that the direction marker cannot replace.

とうきょうきます。

I am going to Tokyo.

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Here the endpoint marker is natural. With this travel verb, とうきょうきます is also natural and gives slightly more attention to the direction of travel.

More examples

このでんしゃおおさかきます。

This train goes to Osaka.

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とりみなみんでいきます。

The birds are flying south.

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ふねはゆっくりみなとかいました。

The ship slowly headed toward the harbor.

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きたすすんでください。

Please proceed north.

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えきあるいていきました。

I walked to the station.

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つぎどこへきたいですか。

Where would you like to go next?

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へ (e) – Direction marker