日: 2026年3月19日

Japanese Learning: Particle “-ni” to make a word a base to allocate number when describing frequency

Functions of Particle “-ni” are shown below.

1. Time of Action

example; Watashi wa Maiasa Roku-ji ni Okimasu. (I get up at six every morning.)

2. Place of Existence

example; Panda wa Ueno Doubutsuen ni Imasu. (A Panda is in Ueno Zoo.)

3. Place where an action is going(getting) to

example; Watashi wa Mainichi Gakkou ni Ikimasu. (I go to school every day.)

4. Object to allocate number

example; Ichinen ni San kai Kuni ni Kaerimasu. (I go to my hometown three times a year.)

There are more functions of particle “-ni”, but this time, let us focus on the function 4, which is to mark something that is an object to allocate numbers.

Take a look at the example below;

example; Ichi nichi ni San kai Gohan o Tabemasu. (I eat meals three times a day.)

In the example, you see the particle “-ni” is attaching just behind the word “Ichi-nichi”. Japanese particles (also known as postpositions) attach to just behind a word, and give the word a function in the sentence. Since we are learning about the function of “-ni” that is 4 above, “Ichi-nichi ni” is a word to which numbers are allocated about how many times the person eats meals in that particular sentence. Although many kinds words can be followed by this type of “ni”, let us limit “time periods” as to the word before “ni”.

(in/per) one hour => Ichi jikan ni

(in/per) one day => Ichi nichi ni

(in/per) one week => Isshuukan ni

(in/per) one month => Ikkagetsu ni

(in/per) one year => Ichi nen ni

Using these [ time period + ni ] words, you can describe frequencies as below;

– Ichi jikan ni Ikkai Toire ni Ikimasu. (I go to a restroom every hour.)

– Ichi nichi ni San kai Gohan o Tabemasu. (I eat meals three times a day.)

– Isshuukan ni Yon kai Nihongo no Jugyou ga Arimasu. (I have Japanese class four times a week.)

– Ikkagetsu ni San kai Gurai Machi ni Ikimasu. (I go to the downtown about three times a month.)

– Ichi nen ni San kai Gurai Ryokou ni Ikimasu. (I travel about three times a year.)

This post was written with reference to the exercise A4 on Section 11 of “Minna no Nihongo” published by “3A Corporation”