How to tell them apart
に marks a point in time like 五時に起きる, a destination like 学校に行く, or the place where something exists like 家にいる, whereas へ marks only the direction of movement like 学校へ行く. For movement verbs you can often use either, but へ stresses direction while に stresses arrival, and only に can mark time or existence.
- に Use に to mark a specific time, a destination of movement, or where someone or something exists.
- へ Use へ to mark the direction toward a destination when someone or something moves.
| Grammar point | Meaning | JLPT level |
|---|---|---|
| に ni | Marks a place, point in time, or direction of movement | N5 |
| へ he | Marks the place toward which someone or something moves | N5 |
に ni
Marks a place, point in time, or direction of movement
に marks where something exists, when something happens, or where someone or something moves to. It follows a noun that names a place, a time, or a destination, as in 東京に, 7時に, or ここに. Use に with verbs of existence like いる and ある, and with movement verbs like 行く, 来る, and 帰る. A common mistake is using で for existence or destination, while に is required in those cases.
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クラブに入りたい人は、ここに名前を書いて下さい。
Those who want to join the club should sign here.
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テーブルにコップがいくつかありましたか。
Were there any glasses on the table?
へ he
Marks the place toward which someone or something moves
へ marks the direction or destination of movement, pointing to where someone or something is heading. It follows a place noun in the pattern Nへ, as in アメリカへ, and is used with movement verbs like 行く, 来る, and 帰る. It is pronounced え even though it is written へ, and it is often interchangeable with に, though へ stresses the direction of travel while に stresses arrival at the goal.
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何のためにそこへいったのか。
What did you go there for?
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あなたは来年アメリカへ行くつもりですか。
Will you go to America next year?
に and へ are both JLPT N5 grammar points that Japanese learners often mix up. This page compares them side by side on meanings, usage and example sentences, so you can tell them apart.