Translation guide
The English preposition 'at' has many uses. This guide covers the most common ones for learners: location, time, direction, state, and more. Japanese often uses particles like に, で, or を, but the choice depends on the meaning.
Expressing static location or the place where an action occurs.
Use に for static location with verbs like いる (to be, animate), ある (to be, inanimate), 住む (to live), 泊まる (to stay).
I am at school.
The book is on the desk.
Use で for the location of an action or event. Verbs like 勉強する (study), 会う (meet), 買う (buy).
I studied at the library.
I met my friend at the station.
With motion verbs like 歩く (walk), 走る (run), 飛ぶ (fly), を marks the area traversed, often translated as 'at' in English for specific points.
Please turn at the corner.
Indicating a specific time or age.
Use に for specific times: clock times, days, dates, ages. Not used with relative time words like 今日 (today), 明日 (tomorrow), 毎日 (every day).
The meeting starts at 3 o'clock.
He entered university at 18.
Use ごろ for approximate times, like 'at around'.
I'll come home at around 7.
Expressing the target of an action, gaze, or movement.
Use に for the target of verbs like 向ける (direct at), 投げる (throw at), 笑う (laugh at), 怒る (get angry at).
I threw the ball at him.
The teacher got angry at me.
More explicit direction, 'toward/at'. Used with verbs like 叫ぶ (shout at), 撃つ (shoot at).
He shouted at me.
Describing being in the middle of an activity or a state.
Use ところだ to emphasize being 'at the moment of' doing something.
I'm at lunch right now.
Attach 中 (ちゅう) to nouns to mean 'in the middle of' or 'at (work/school)'. Commonly used for 仕事中 (at work), 会議中 (in a meeting).
He is at a meeting now.
Indicating a specific value or rate.
Use で for prices, speeds, rates. Often with verbs like 売る (sell at), 走る (run at).
These apples are sold at 100 yen each.
The car was going at 100 km/h.
Expressing the cause of an emotion, often 'at' in English.
Use に with verbs like 驚く (be surprised at), 喜ぶ (be pleased at), がっかりする (be disappointed at).
I was surprised at the news.
Describing skill level.
Use が上手 (good at) / が下手 (bad at) with nouns. For verbs, use のが上手/下手.
He is good at math.
I am bad at cooking.
For verb phrases, nominalize with の.
He is fast at running.
に marks existence (where something is). で marks the location of an action. Compare: 公園にいる (I am at the park) vs 公園で遊ぶ (I play at the park).
He lives in Tokyo.
He works in Tokyo.
In many time expressions, 'at' is not translated. For example, 'at night' is 夜 (よる) without a particle, or 夜に. 'At that time' is その時 (そのとき). Overusing に can sound unnatural.
I'm at home.
See you at 5.