In Japanese, the particle "に" (ni) is really important. It helps us talk about both time and location. Let’s break down how it works in simple terms and look at some easy examples.

Location

When we use "に" to talk about location, it tells us exactly where something is happening. For example:

• 学校にいます。
  (Gakkō ni imasu.)
  "I’m at school."

In this sentence, "学校" (gakkō) means "school," and "に" shows where the speaker is. Here’s another example:

• 東京に行きます。
  (Tōkyō ni ikimasu.)
  "I will go to Tokyo."

In this case, "東京" (Tōkyō) is the place the speaker is going.

Time

"に" is also used when we talk about specific times. This is helpful when we want to say when something will happen. For example:

• 3時に会いましょう。
  (San-ji ni aimashō.)
  "Let’s meet at 3 o’clock."

In this sentence, "3時" (san-ji) tells us it’s at 3 o’clock, and "に" shows us exactly when the meeting will be. Another example is:

• 明日に行きます。
  (Ashita ni ikimasu.)
  "I will go tomorrow."

Here, "明日" (ashita) means "tomorrow," and "に" indicates that the action of going will happen on that day.

Summary

To sum it up, the particle "に" has two main uses:

1. Location: It marks a specific place where something happens or where someone is going.

2. Time: It shows a specific moment in time when something takes place.

By understanding how to use "に" better, you can make your Japanese conversations clearer. Keep practicing, and soon using "に" will feel easy!