に marks a specific point in time or a destination/location. It answers “when?” or “to where?” and is used with time words and movement or existence verbs. Key points: • Use に for a specific time: 3時に, 月曜日に • Use に for destinations: 学校に行きます • Use に for existence location: 机の上に本があります • Do not use に for general time words like きょう or まいにち For time, に attaches to exact points: “7時に起きます” (I wake up at 7). For place, に marks where someone goes or where something exists: “公園に行きます” (go to the park), “部屋に猫がいます” (there is a cat in the room). The key idea is that に points to a single, specific point. When the time or place is more general (like “every day” or “this year”), に is often omitted. If you are unsure, ask yourself: “Is this a specific time or destination?” If yes, に is likely correct. If it is a general time or the place where an action happens, consider dropping に or using で. Beginners should remember three common patterns: Time に + verb, Place に + 行く/来る, and Place に + いる/ある. Using に correctly makes your sentences clear about time and destination.