に(ni)

に
1. End Point marker (to, into)
2. Location Marker (in, at)
3. Two party verbs (at, to)

This page explains the 3 fundamental uses of に, as a location marker, an endpoint marker, and a “partner” marker for two party verbs. Some of the later explanations may be a little confusing; But if you just remember the verbs that must use に, you will be fine.

Endpoint Marker

The most common use of に is as an endpoint marker. It defines an endpoint as a single point instead of as an area.The closest English word is “at” or “to”. If you need to say at or to in English, you probably need to use にに is used instead of を(o) for verbs with an endpoint/destination.

Verbs with an endpoint

• いく(iku) – go
• くる (kuru) – come
• かえる (kaeru) – go home
• むかう (mukau) – go towards
• なる (naru) – to become

Examples

• 学校に行く (Gakkou ni iku)- Go to school
• 家に帰る （Ie ni kaeru)-　Go home
• パーティーにくる (pa-ti- ni kuru)- Come to the party.
  
  

Location Marker

に as a location marker defines a location as a point. It is primarily used for “static” actions. Static actions are limited to a point; i.e. no moving around. This type of に typically gets translated as “at” or “in”. 
For dynamic actions, see で.

Examples of “static” verbs

• いる/ある – be somewhere
• たつ – stand somewhere
• すわる – sit somewhere
• とまる – stay somewhere
• ねる (maybe) – sleep somewhere. 

Examples

• がっこうにいる (gakkou ni iru) – in the school
• へやにたつ (heya ni tatsu) – stand in the room
• いすにすわる (isu ni suwaru) – Sit in the chair.
• へやにたべている  (heya ni tabeteiru) – Eating in the room (see present progressive)

Two Party Verbs

Some verbs are special in that they inherently require two parties to happen. These are verbs like talk, ask, meet, give, etc. With these verbs, に marks the second party to the action; the one who enables the action to occur. It does not mark the one who performs the action. 
に does not necessarily mean, and may even exclude, the other person participating.
See also Giving and Receiving.

Examples and Comparisons

• かれをはなす (kare wo hanasu) – talk him (talk about him) △ (usually wrong)
  かれに話す (kare ni hanasu) – Talk to him. 
• かのじょをあう✖ (kanojo wo au) – do “meet” to her. ✖ 
  かのじょにあう (kanojo ni au) – Meet her (If there’s no “her” you can’t meet)
• せんせいにきく (sensei ni kiku) – ask to teacher (ask the teacher)
• にほんごをかれにおしえる (Nihongo wo kareni oshieru) – Teach Japanese to him

に and と

Most of these verbs may also use と (to), which implies a two way exchange. (mutual)

• かれにはなす (kare ni hanasu) – talk to him
• かれとはなす (kare to hanasu) – talk with him

Verbs that use に

Here is a list of some other verbs that must use に (ni). 

Location/Endpoint に verbs:

• いる(iru)・ある(aru) – to exist (you must exist somewhere)
• いく(iku) – to go — you must go somewhere
• くる(kuru) – to come
• かえる(kaeru) – go home
• なる (naru)- to become (endpoint)

Two party に verbs:

• あう(au) – to meet (who)
• きく (kiku) – To ask (for who you asked)
• はなす (hanasu) – to talk (to who)
• おしえる (おしえる) – To teach/tell (who)

に and を comparison

• がっこうをいく (gakkou wo iku) – Go (the) school. ✖
• がっこうにいく (gakkou ni iku) – Go to (the) school.
• いえをいる (ie wo iru) – exist the school (“do exist” to the school)✖
• いえにいる (ie ni iru) – Be at home.