には、For Something
“The biggest pitfall as you make your way through your life is impatience.” - Susan Jeffers
Now we’re going to learn one more particle… though really it’s just two particles you already know, stuck together.
には (for something/someone)
Now, I don’t mean “a present for someone” I mean something that’s more like “for someone/something, this is too big” or “for me, I ate too much.” Along those lines. This also happens to go perfectly with すぎる, which is nice and convenient because you get to learn something new while still practicing すぎる some more.
If you look at the two particles together, this kind of makes sense, too. With は, you’re kind of saying “as for _____.” With に, you’re indicating some sort of direction. Put them together, and you have “as for in the direction of something/someone…” Simplify that and you have “for something/someone.” Let’s take a look at some examples and you can see what I mean.
aわたし には
As for me…
aボビーさん には
As for Bobby…
aこの へや には
As for this room
So, what about these things?
aボビーさん には この すし は まずすぎる
For Bobby, this sushi tastes too bad
aこの へや には 大きすぎる
It’s too big for this room
For those things (thing+には) something else is too much. Can you come up with some of your own sentences for the following things? As always, some example sentences are there to help you along. We’ll continue to use this particle (set of particles) as you move forward in TextFugu too, so as long as you get the general idea now, you’ll get to practice this later and learn it more solidly with time.
aひとみさん には この へや は せますぎる
For Hitomi, this room is too small/narrow
aトムさん には この へや は 大きすぎる
For Tom, this room is too big
aあの がくせい には にほんご は むずかしすぎる
For that student over there, Japanese is too difficult
犬 には やさい は まずすぎる
For a dog, vegetables taste too bad.
Before you move on, think of the two particles you just learned. What do they mean? How are they used? Can you come up with one or two (simple is okay!) example sentences for each?
で
には
Once you’ve thought through those things, also think back to すぎる. What does it mean? How do you do it in past tense? Can you create two or three (simple) sentences off the top of your head based off what you just learned?