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で (means)

by, with, in (tool, transport, language)

Noun + で

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The same で marks how something is done: the tool, the transport, the language. 箸で食べます, "eat with chopsticks"; バスで行きます, "go by bus"; 日本語で話しましょう, "let's talk in Japanese".

It's a different job from "at a place", but the two rarely clash, since places and tools don't look much alike.

Two details trip people up:

  • On foot is 歩いて, a verb, not 足で.
  • "With a person" is と (友達と行きます), never で. で is for things you use, not people you're with.

Examples

  • 毎日まいにちバスで会社かいしゃに行いきます。

    I take the bus to work every day.

  • 箸はしで食たべます。

    I eat with chopsticks.

  • 日本語にほんごで話はなしましょう。

    Let's talk in Japanese.

  • ボールペンで書かいてください。

    Please write in ballpoint pen.

  • 写真しゃしんはメールで送おくります。

    I'll send the photos by email.

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