で To Indicate Time
“In order to be an immaculate member of a flock of sheep, one must above all be a sheep oneself.” – Albert Einstein
The last version of で has to do with time. This で indicates when something happens. Really, though, it’s just like で #1 (aren’t they all?) in that something is occurring at a certain time. Time is kind of like a place of its own if you think about it. So, this で is just like the other versions of the で particle you learned, except instead of a location or a thing, you’re talking about time.
a ５じで おわる。
Finish at 5 o’clock
a ９月で おわる。
Finish in September.
a 今日で ５年 に なる。
It will become 5 years today.
Just like the first couple で particle, right? It’s all kind of the same – it’s only the little differences you have to be aware of.
In your head, go through the four で particle versions in your head. Can you think of all four of them as well as how they work and differ? If so, it’s time for you to look at kanji. Go through the following kanji, and use that time to rest your mind from で stuff. Then, afterwards, when you come back to practice で and everything else you’ll have processed the information as much as possible and be ready for the review phase, which will help you to solidify and relearn the parts you didn’t get quite as well the first time through.