Usage Explanation ①: 「で」 (de) – Location of Action

で (de) marks the place where an action happens.

Think of it as a stage. You stay in that place and do something (eat, sleep, study, wait). You are not crossing through it; you are inside it performing an action.

Example 1: (Eating)

レストランで ご飯（はん）を食（た）べます。(Resutoran de gohan o tabemasu.)

I eat a meal at the restaurant.

Example 2: (Buying)

スーパーで 野菜（やさい）を買（か）いました。(Sūpā de yasai o kaimashita.)

I bought vegetables at the supermarket.

Example 3: (Waiting)

駅（えき）で 友達（ともだち）を待（ま）っています。(Eki de tomodachi o matte imasu.)

I am waiting for my friend at the station.

Usage Explanation ②: 「を」 (o) – Path of Motion

を (o) is usually the “Direct Object” marker (Coffee o drink). But for motion verbs, it marks the place you move through.

Use this with verbs like: Walk (歩く), Run (走る), Fly (飛ぶ), Cross (渡る), Pass (通る).

Example 1: (Walking through)

公園（こうえん）を 散歩（さんぽ）します。(Kōen o sanpo shimasu.)

I take a walk in (through) the park.

Example 2: (Flying through)

鳥（とり）が、空（そら）を 飛（と）んでいます。(Tori ga, sora o tonde imasu.)

A bird is flying in (through) the sky.

Example 3: (Crossing)

橋（はし）を 渡（わた）ります。(Hashi o watarimasu.)

I cross the bridge.

Comparison: 「で」 vs 「を」

Let’s check the verb types.

Common Mistake Examples

Mistake 1: Walking “at” the park

Wrong:

毎朝（まいあさ）、公園（こうえん）で 歩（ある）きます。(Maiasa, kōen de arukimasu.)

Natural:

毎朝（まいあさ）、公園（こうえん）を 歩（ある）きます。(Maiasa, kōen o arukimasu.)

Why?

Walking is a movement through space. While “de” isn’t 100% wrong (it sounds like you are exercising *inside* the park area), を (o) is the standard particle for “taking a walk” along a path.

Mistake 2: Crossing the street

Wrong:

道（みち）で 渡（わた）ります。(Michi de watarimasu.)

Correct:

道（みち）を 渡（わた）ります。(Michi o watarimasu.)

Why?

“Wataru” (to cross) requires passing *from one side to the other*. This “passage” must be marked with を (o).

Practice Quiz

Let’s check your understanding! Choose the correct particle.

Q1.

空（そら）( ) 飛行機（ひこうき）が飛（と）んでいます。

An airplane is flying ( ) the sky.

1. で (de)
2. を (o)

Q2.

図書館（としょかん）( ) 勉強（べんきょう）しました。

I studied ( ) the library.

1. で (de)
2. を (o)

Q3.

次（つぎ）の角（かど）( ) 右（みぎ）に曲（ま）がってください。

Please turn right ( ) the next corner.

1. で (de)
2. を (o)

Summary: Key Differences

Look at the verb!

• Is it a Motion Verb (Walk, Run, Fly, Cross)?
  → Use を (o). (Movement through space)
• Is it a Static/Activity Verb (Eat, Study, Wait, Buy)?
  → Use で (de). (Location of action)

Remember: “Walk O (through) the Park”!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Is ‘Kouen de sanpo suru’ (Walk in the park) wrong?

A1: It is not 100% wrong, but “Kouen o sanpo suru” is much more natural. Sanpo (walk) is a movement through a space, so we prefer the particle を (o). Using で (de) sounds like you are walking in circles inside one spot.

Q2: What about swimming in the pool?

A2: Good question! You can use both. プールで泳ぐ (Swim at the pool – location) and プールを泳ぐ (Swim [through/across] the pool – distance/course). Usually, “de” is common for playing/swimming, but “o” is used when emphasizing the distance you swam.

Q3: Why do we use ‘o’ for turning a corner?

A3: This is the same rule! Turning is a movement through a point. So we say 角を曲がる (Kado o magaru – Turn [at] the corner). The corner is the point you pass through.

Related Articles

• The Difference Between Particle 「に」 (ni) and 「へ」 (he)
• The Difference Between 「出る」 and 「出す」 (Leaving a place with ‘o’)