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Minna no Nihongo · Lesson 5

Going, coming, returning

Build a movement sentence by attaching destination, transport, companion, and time to 行きます・来ます・帰ります.

Keep these three
  • に or へ points toward the destination.
  • で marks transport; と marks a companion.
  • Question word + も + negative gives “nowhere/no one/nothing.”

Place に／へ 行きます

Choose the destination

に treats the place as a target. へ emphasizes direction toward it. At this level, both usually translate as “to.”

I will go to Hakone on the weekend.
I will return to my country next month.

Vehicle で / Person と

Add transport and company

で shows the means used for movement. と joins the person who accompanies you.

I go to Osaka by bullet train.
I went to Kyoto with my family.

Question word + も + negative

Turn a question word into “none”

Combine a question word with も and a negative predicate to mean no one, nothing, nowhere, or never.

I do not go anywhere.
I did not go with anyone.

Close the notes

Can you bring it back?

01Which particle marks the vehicle used?

で

02What is the nuance difference between destination に and へ?

に targets the endpoint; へ emphasizes direction toward it.

03How do you say “I did not go anywhere”?

どこにも行きませんでした。