Translation guide
The English word 'to' has many grammatical functions. This guide covers the most common ones for learners: direction, purpose, indirect objects, comparisons, and more. Japanese uses particles like に, へ, まで, and various verb forms instead of a single word.
Expressing movement toward a place or goal.
The particle に marks the destination or goal of movement. It is the most common way to say 'to' for places.
The particle へ also indicates direction, but it emphasizes the path or direction rather than the final destination. It is slightly more formal or written.
まで means 'as far as' or 'until', emphasizing the endpoint of a journey or extent.
東京までどのくらいですか。
How long does it take to Tokyo?
Expressing the reason or purpose for an action.
ために expresses purpose or benefit. It can be used with verbs or nouns.
日本語を勉強するために日本に来ました。
I came to Japan to study Japanese.
For movement verbs, the stem of a verb + に indicates the purpose of going/coming.
Marking the person or thing that receives something.
に marks the indirect object with verbs like あげる (give), 送る (send), 教える (teach), etc.
友達にプレゼントをあげた。
I gave a present to my friend.
先生に質問をした。
I asked a question to the teacher.
Expressing 'compared to' or a ratio.
に比べて means 'compared to'.
去年に比べて、今年は暑い。
Compared to last year, this year is hot.
に対して can mean 'in contrast to' or 'toward', often used for attitudes or ratios.
Expressing transformation into something.
になる means 'to become', and にする means 'to make into' or 'to decide on'.
氷が水になった。
The ice turned to water.
部屋をきれいにした。
I made the room clean.
Expressing a deadline or end point in time.
まで means 'until' for time.
9時から5時まで働きます。
I work from 9 to 5.
までに means 'by (a deadline)'.
Using 'to' with verbs in patterns like 'want to', 'need to', or reported speech.
For 'want to do', use the verb stem + たい.
日本に行きたい。
I want to go to Japan.
For 'need to do', use 必要がある.
Expressing 'attached to' or 'added to'.
に is used with verbs like 付ける (attach), 入れる (put in), 加える (add).
壁にポスターを貼った。
I put a poster on the wall.
Both に and へ can mark direction, but に focuses on the destination point, while へ emphasizes the direction or path. へ is often used in written language or formal speech, and in set phrases like 日本へようこそ (Welcome to Japan). In casual conversation, に is more common.
English 'to' has many functions that do not correspond to a single Japanese word. Always identify the grammatical role first (direction, purpose, indirect object, etc.) and use the appropriate particle or construction. Direct translation will often result in unnatural Japanese.
I go to see a movie.
買い物に行きます。
I go shopping.
のに is used when the purpose involves a thing or situation, often with adjectives like 便利 (convenient) or 必要 (necessary).
このかばんは旅行するのに便利です。
This bag is convenient for traveling.
1対1の試合。
A one-to-one match.
Please submit the report by Friday.
I need to study more.
For reported speech or 'said that...', use と言う.
彼は来ると言った。
He said he would come.