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N5

で

With, By (using)

みんなでレストランに行いく。

We all go to the restaurant together.

Explanation

「で」 shows the means, tool, material, language or vehicle you use: 「電車で行く」 (go by train), 「箸で食べる」 (eat with chopsticks), 「日本語で話す」 (speak in Japanese), 「紙で作る」 (make from paper). The way you pay also takes 「で」: 「カードで払う」.

Mixed up with

Walking does not take 「で」; say 「歩いて行く」 or 「歩いて来る」, never 「歩きで行く」 or 「足で行く」. Vehicles (train, car, plane, bicycle) all take 「で」.

The 「で」 in 「図書館で勉強する」 marks where it happens; the 「で」 in 「鉛筆で書く」 marks the tool, which is a different job.

Examples

  1. 来年らいねんは皆みんなでハワイに行いく。

    Next year we'll all go to Hawaii together.

  2. 家族かぞく全員ぜんいんで沖縄おきなわへ行いく。

    My whole family is going to Okinawa together.

  3. バスで行いく。

    I go by bus.

Tested 2 times in past papers

N5 · Jul 2018, Q36N4 · Jul 2013, Q36