Translation guide
The English preposition 'with' has many uses. This guide covers the most common ones for learners: accompaniment, means/instrument, manner, having/possessing, and more. Japanese often uses particles like と, で, or specific verbs instead of a single word.
I went with a friend.
Eat with chopsticks.
a girl with long hair
Expressing doing something together with a person or animal.
Use the particle と after a noun to mean 'with'. Adding いっしょに emphasizes 'together'. This is the most common way to express accompaniment.
I watched a movie with a friend.
I go shopping with my girlfriend.
Used as an adverbial phrase. Often placed before the verb.
I live with my family.
Expressing the tool, method, or means used to do something.
The particle で marks the means or instrument. It translates to 'with' or 'by' in English.
I eat with chopsticks.
Describing the way or attitude in which an action is performed.
Use an adverb + に or a noun + で to express manner. Common adverbs: いっしょに (together), しずかに (quietly). Nouns: 笑顔で (with a smile).
Describing a person or thing that has a certain attribute, part, or accompanying item.
Use がある to mean 'has' or 'with'. When modifying a noun, use のある. This is the most natural way to express possession of attributes.
Expressing that something is added or included with something else.
Use と for items that go together. For things that come as a set or are included, use に...がついている.
Indicating staying with someone, or something being left with someone.
Use のところに for staying at someone's place. For leaving something with someone, use にあずける or simply に置く.
Expressing conflict, competition, or interaction with someone.
Use と for mutual actions like fighting, arguing, talking, etc. The verb often implies interaction.
I fought with him.
Expressing the reason or cause of a state, often emotional or physical.
Use で for direct causes of states (often negative). のために can also be used but is more formal or emphasizes reason.
と is for accompaniment (people, animals, or things you do something together with). で is for means or instrument (tools, methods). Compare: 友達と話す (talk with a friend) vs. 電話で話す (talk by phone).
I met with him.
I like coffee with milk.
Please write your name with a pen.
I go to school by bus.
Literally 'using N'. More explicit than で, often used in instructions or formal contexts.
Please open the box with this tool.
He waved with a smile.
Please drive with care.
She looked at me with an angry face.
Formal/literary expression meaning 'with' (manner). Often used in set phrases like 敬意をもって (with respect).
I inform you with respect.
a cat with blue eyes
We are looking for a person with experience.
Used for attached items or features. つき means 'attached' or 'included'.
a cell phone with a camera
This car comes with air conditioning.
持っている is used for tangible possessions or abstract things like qualifications. のある is more for inherent attributes.
He has a lot of money. (He is a man with a lot of money.)
The hamburger comes with fries.
I'll have coffee with cake.
I stay with my grandmother on weekends.
I left the key with a friend.
I played a soccer match with my friends.
More formal, meaning 'toward' or 'against'. Used for attitudes or actions directed at someone.
He is angry with me.
I was absent from school with illness.
I cried with joy.
車で行った。
I went by car.
English 'with' often corresponds to a Japanese verb or adjective structure, not a particle. For example, 'a room with a view' is 景色のいい部屋 (literally 'a room whose view is good'). Trying to use と or で here would be unnatural.
To say you have something with you (on your person), use 持っている. 私はパスポートを持っています (I have my passport with me). This is different from just owning something.
She looked at me with a smile.
He is a man with a lot of experience.