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.
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.
友達と映画を見た。
I watched a movie with a friend.
彼女といっしょに買い物に行きます。
I go shopping with my girlfriend.
Used as an adverbial phrase. Often placed before the verb.
家族といっしょに住んでいます。
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.
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).
彼は笑顔で手を振った。
He waved with a smile.
注意して運転してください。
Please drive with care.
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.
青い目のある猫
a cat with blue eyes
経験のある人を探しています。
We are looking for a person with experience.
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.
ハンバーガーにポテトがついています。
The hamburger comes with fries.
コーヒーとケーキをください。
I'll have coffee with cake.
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.
週末は祖母のところに泊まります。
I stay with my grandmother on weekends.
鍵を友達にあずけた。
I left the key with a friend.
Expressing conflict, competition, or interaction with someone.
Use と for mutual actions like fighting, arguing, talking, etc. The verb often implies interaction.
彼とけんかした。
I fought with him.
友達とサッカーの試合をした。
I played a soccer match with my friends.
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.
病気で学校を休んだ。
I was absent from school with illness.
喜びで泣いた。
I cried with joy.
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).
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.
ミルク入りのコーヒーが好きです。
I like coffee with milk.
彼女は笑顔で私を見た。
She looked at me with a smile.
彼は経験が豊富な人だ。
He is a man with a lot of experience.
バスで学校に行く。
I go to school by bus.
Literally 'using N'. More explicit than で, often used in instructions or formal contexts.
この道具を使って箱を開けてください。
Please open the box with this tool.
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).
敬意をもってお知らせします。
I inform you with respect.
Used for attached items or features. つき means 'attached' or 'included'.
カメラつきの携帯電話
a cell phone with a camera
この車はエアコンがついています。
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.
彼はたくさんのお金を持っている。
He has a lot of money. (He is a man with a lot of money.)
More formal, meaning 'toward' or 'against'. Used for attitudes or actions directed at someone.
彼は私に対して怒っている。
He is angry with me.