ni

purpose particle

FromLesson 3inHardcore Japanese

Usages of ni

ため　にtame ni

for (the sake of)

明日あした　は　弟おとうと　の　誕生日たんじょうび　なので、　お祝いわい　に　ケーキ　を　作つくります。asita ha otouto no tanzyoubi nanode, oiwai ni keeki wo tukurimasu.

Tomorrow is my younger brother’s birthday, so I’ll bake a cake to celebrate.

彼女かのじょ　は　新あたらしい　職場しょくば　に　慣なれるの　に　時間じかん　が　かかる。kanozyo ha atarasii syokuba ni nareruno ni zikan ga kakaru.

It takes time for her to get used to her new workplace.

彼女かのじょ　は　人ひと　が　多おおい　ところ　が　苦手にがて　だ　が、　支店してん　の　手伝てつだい　に　行いった。kanozyo ha hito ga ooi tokoro ga nigate da ga, siten no tetudai ni itta.

She’s not good with crowds, but she went to help at the branch.

問題もんだい　の　原因げにん　を　知しる　に　は、　直接ちょくせつ　見みた　人ひと　に　聞きくの　が　早はやい。mondai no genin wo siru ni ha, tyokusetu mita hito ni kikuno ga hayai.

To find out the cause of a problem, the fastest way is to ask someone who saw it directly.

深呼吸しんこきゅう　とか　ストレッチ　とか　の　小ちいさな　習慣しゅうかん　は、　集中力しゅうちゅうりょく　が　落おちるの　を　予防よぼうするの　に　も　健康けんこう　の　ため　に　も　役やくに　立たちます。sinkokyuu toka sutoretti toka no tiisana syuukan ha, syuutyuuryoku ga otiruno wo yobousuruno ni mo kenkou no tame ni mo yakuni tatimasu.

Small habits like deep breathing or stretching are useful both for preventing your concentration from dropping and for your health.

買かい物もの　に　行いった　母はは　が、　カレー　の　材料ざいりょう　の　にんじん　と　玉たまねぎ　と　じゃがいも　を　たくさん　買かって　きた。kaimono ni itta haha ga, karee no zairyou no ninzin to tamanegi to zyagaimo wo takusan katte kita.

My mother, who went shopping, bought a lot of carrots, onions, and potatoes for curry.

この　シャツ　は　ボタン　が　多おおい　ので、　着きるの　に　少すこし　時間じかん　が　かかります。kono syatu ha botan ga ooi node, kiruno ni sukosi zikan ga kakarimasu.

This shirt has a lot of buttons, so it takes a little time to put on.

この　はさみ　は　よく　切きれる　ので、　紙かみ　を　切きるの　に　便利べんり　です。kono hasami ha yoku kireru node, kami wo kiruno ni benri desu.

These scissors cut well, so they are convenient for cutting paper.

明日あした　は　友達ともだち　と　一緒いっしょ　に　兄あに　の　チーム　を　応援おうえんし　に　行いきます。asita ha tomodati to issyo ni ani no tiimu wo ouensi ni ikimasu.

Tomorrow I will go cheer for my older brother's team with my friend.

グループ　に　未読みどく　の　メッセージ　が　たくさん　たまって　いて、　読よむの　に　時間じかん　が　かかった。guruupu ni midoku no messeezi ga takusan tamatte ite, yomuno ni zikan ga kakatta.

There were a lot of unread messages piled up in the group, so it took time to read them.

虫歯むしば　の　治療ちりょう　に　麻酔ますい　を　使つかいます。musiba no tiryou ni masui wo tukaimasu.

Anesthesia is used for cavity treatment.

アンコール　に　十八番おはこ　を　歌うたい、　友達ともだち　と　ハモった。ankooru ni ohako wo utai, tomodati to hamotta.

For the encore, I sang my signature song and harmonized with a friend.

AI Language TutorTry it ↗

“How do verb conjugations work in Japanese?”

Japanese verbs conjugate based on tense, politeness, and mood. For example, the polite present form adds ‑ます to the verb stem, while the past tense uses ‑ました. Unlike English, Japanese verbs don't change based on the subject — the same form works for "I", "you", and "they".

Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor

Start learning Japanese

Master Japanese — from ni to fluency

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.

✓Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
✓Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
✓Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions

Start learning Japanese →