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JLPT N5Particles

乗り物と で— Means of Transport

How to state the vehicle or method used to travel, using the particle で ('by means of'). Going on foot is the exception — it uses the te-form 歩いて.

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Pro lessonUNIT 32 · PARTICLES

Structure · 形

[Transport Noun] + で + [Destination] + に／へ + 行く

Examples · 例文

  • 電車で会社に行きます。

    Densha de kaisha ni ikimasu.

    I go to work by train.

    電車 (train) + で (by means of) + 会社 (office) + に (destination) + 行きます (go)

  • 歩いて帰ります。

    Aruite kaerimasu.

    I'll walk home.

    Exception: walking uses the te-form 歩いて ('by walking'), not a noun + で

  • 自転車で学校へ行きます。

    Jitensha de gakkou e ikimasu.

    I go to school by bicycle.

    自転車 (bicycle) + で (by means of) + 学校へ (to school) + 行きます (go)

Usage notes · 注意

  • The 'means/tool' で: で marks the means used — traveling by train, eating with chopsticks, writing in English are all で.
  • On foot: don't say 徒歩で in everyday speech (that's for timetables/signs). Use 歩いて.

Commonly confused with

The JLPT rarely asks whether you recognise a pattern — it asks which of several similar patterns fits. These are the ones 乗り物と is tested against.

vsで (means) vs に (destination)

In 電車で会社に行く, で marks HOW you go (train) and に marks WHERE you go (office). They do different jobs and both appear in the same sentence.

vstransport + で vs 歩いて

Vehicles use noun + で (バスで). Walking is the exception and uses the te-form verb 歩いて, not 徒歩で in speech.

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