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N5 · G27 Particles

〜で (means / method)

By means of ~ / Using ~

で after a noun marks the means: the transport, tool or language you use to do something. It works like 'by', 'with' or 'in' in English.

How to make it

RuleExample
Transport + で
Tool + で
Language or medium + で

Meaning and examples

  1. 1. Transport

    Say how you travel with the vehicle + で: バスで, 車で, 電車で.

    • mainichi, densha de kaisha ni ikimasu.

      I go to work by train every day.

    • eki made basu de kimashita.

      I came to the station by bus.

    • nani de gakkou ni kimasu ka.

      How do you get to school?

  2. 2. Tools and things you use

    Mark the tool you do something with: a pen, chopsticks, a computer.

    • nihonjin wa hashi de gohan o tabemasu.

      Japanese people eat rice with chopsticks.

    • boorupen de namae o kaite kudasai.

      Please write your name in ballpoint pen.

  3. 3. Languages and media

    Mark the language you speak or write in, or the medium like the phone or email.

    • nihongo de hanashimashou.

      Let's talk in Japanese.

    • kore wa nihongo de nan to iimasu ka.

      What is this called in Japanese?

    • ato de denwa de hanashimasu.

      I'll talk to you on the phone later.

Nuance

Walking is not 'by foot' with で: say あるいて (by walking). When you ask 'by what?', read 何で as なにで; なんで usually means 'why'. で also marks the place where an action happens, so check the noun: a vehicle or tool means 'by', a place means 'at'.

Compared with

The same particle で marks where an action happens (駅で会います). With a tool or vehicle it marks how.

に marks where you are going (会社に行きます). で marks how you get there (電車で).

どうやって asks 'how?' in general, and the answer often uses で: バスで行きます.

Common mistakes

Wrong

Right

Walking is expressed with あるいて, not 足で.

Wrong

Right

The means of transport takes で; に is for the destination.

Wrong

Right

The tool takes で; を is for the thing you eat.

Practice

JLPT style: choose the best answer for ( ).

FAQ

Is it 電車で or 電車に?

To say you travel by train, use 電車で行きます. 電車に is used with のります (get on the train): 電車にのります.

How do I say 'I walk to school'?

Say あるいて学校に行きます. Japanese uses the て-form of あるく (walk) instead of 'by foot'.

How can I tell で for means from で for place?

Look at the noun before it. A vehicle, tool or language means 'by' or 'with' (バスで). A place means 'at' or 'in' (駅で).

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