へ (e) - Direction Particle

[Place][Movement Verb]

Explanation

Indicates direction of movement, similar to "toward" in English.

Formation

Noun + へ

Examples

学校へ行きます。
Gakkou e ikimasu.
I go (toward) school.
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日本へ来ました。
Nihon e kimashita.
I came to Japan.
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南へ向かいます。
Minami e mukaimasu.
I head south.
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Usage Notes

  • Interchangeable with に for many movement verbs
  • へ emphasizes direction, に emphasizes destination
  • Written へ but pronounced "e" as particle
  • Can't be used for time (use に)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • へ vs に: both work with 行く/来る but nuance differs
  • Don't use へ with existence verbs
  • Can't use for giving/receiving (use に)