JLPT N5 Grammar – Difference between “〜に行く”, “〜へ行く” and “〜まで行く”
Table of Contents
1. Difference between “〜に行く” “〜へ行く” and “〜まで行く”
2. に・へ
3. まで
4. Summary
5. Quiz
6. Similar Articles
7. Comment
Q: What is the difference between the three sentences: “公園に歩いて行く”, “公園へ歩いて行く”, and “公園まで歩いて行く”?
A: “に,” “へ,” and “まで” are particles used with movement verbs like “行く” (to go) and “来る” (to come), but there are differences in their meanings and usage.
Let’s take a closer look at each of them in detail.
へ・に (JLPT N5)
To better understand each meaning, let’s first consider the difference between “に” and “へ.”
[に]
This particle indicates a destination (point of arrival or target destination), focusing on the endpoint or final destination. There is no assumption about the starting point, and the emphasis is on reaching the intended destination.
[へ]
It indicates the direction of movement. The starting point is assumed to be where you are, and it means moving toward the destination (target location).
“に” and “へ” can be used interchangeably, and in everyday conversation, “に” is predominantly used.
However, the following phrases are fixed expressions used idiomatically, so they cannot be substituted or interchanged.
[Examples]
〇お風呂に入ります。
× お風呂へ入ります。
I will take a bath.
〇壁にポスターが貼ってあります。
× 壁へポスターが貼ってあります。
There is a poster on the wall.
〇電車に乗ってでかけました。
× 電車へ乗ってでかけました。
I went out by train.
まで (JLPT N5)
“まで” has several uses:
①It indicates the range or limit from a starting point to an ending point, such as in distance, time, or quantity.
[Examples]
大阪から東京まで行きます。
I’m going from Osaka to Tokyo.
大阪から東京まで604.8キロあります。
It’s 604.8 kilometers from Osaka to Tokyo.
日本から上海まで飛行機で2時間20分ぐらいかかります。
It takes about 2 hours and 20 minutes by plane from Japan to Shanghai.
1から10まで数えました。
I counted from 1 to 10.
②Expressing the process of movement
1. The endpoint of the range: It indicates movement from a certain point to the endpoint.
[Example]
東京駅までタクシーで行きました。
I took a taxi to Tokyo Station.
⇒ It means that the movement was by taxi to Tokyo Station.
2. The point of limitation… It indicates that there is no movement beyond the endpoint.
[Example]
この電車は大阪駅までまいります。
This train goes to Osaka Station.
⇒ This means that the train does not go beyond Osaka Station.
3. Relay point… It suggests that the destination is not the final one but rather an intermediate point.
(Therefore, ‘まで’ is used when indicating a transfer point.)
[Example]
東京まで新幹線で行って、山手線に乗って渋谷に行きます。
I will take the Shinkansen to Tokyo, then transfer to the Yamanote Line to go to Shibuya.
Even with verbs that express movement, the following types of verbs are used with “まで.”
[Examples]
〇駅まで歩きました。
× 駅に歩きました。
× 駅へ歩きました。
I walked to the station.
〇近くの公園まで走りました。
× 近くの公園に走りました。
× 近くの公園へ走りました。
I ran to the nearby park.
Summary
[に]
- Indicating a destination, emphasizing the point of arrival.
[へ]
- Indicates the direction of movement.
- The starting point is assumed to be where the speaker is, and it indicates movement toward the destination.
[まで]
- Indicates the range or limit from the starting point to the endpoint in terms of distance, time, quantity, etc.
- When the endpoint represents a place, it expresses the process of movement toward that endpoint.
Quiz
Read the following sentence and choose the expression that fits the context from the options provided in the parentheses.
Click on the question to check the answer.
A. まで
駅までどうやって行くんですか。
How do you get to the station?
*Since it is asking about the process leading up to the final destination with “どうやって,” “まで” is appropriate.
A. まで
健康のために会社まで歩いて来ています。
I walk to work for my health.
*Since the verb “walk” is used, “まで”, which expresses the process, is the correct choice.
A. に
明日、このイベントに行きませんか。
Shall we go to this event tomorrow?
*As a specific destination “event” is indicated, “まで” is correct.
A. に
昨日はお風呂に入って、10時ぐらいに寝ました。
Yesterday, I took a bath and went to bed around 10 o’clock.
*As the phrase is “to take a bath,” “に” is the correct choice.
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