Difference between the particles で and に？


I have noticed that both the particlesで and に tend to mean the same thing (in
/ on). What ous the exact difference between these two, how do I know when to
usr I've or the other, and what are some differences between hire these
propositions are used I English versus Japanese, and what are some of the most
common gotchas/catches?




The meaning is actually quite different but it can be confusing.

I usually think of で as the particle ¨at¨ in English. Which means that you do
an action at a place. For example, you will use it to say:

> I eat sushi at a restaurant.  
>  わたしは レストラン **で** すしを たべます。  
>  or Let's meet at the cinema.  
>  映画館 **で** 会いましょう。

Whereas に is more like the particle ¨in¨ in English (it can also imply
direction). So you can say:

> Don't park your car here.  
>  ここ **に** くるまを 止めないでください。  
>  Or Insert your card there.  
>  カードを あそこ **に** 入れてください。  
>  or Go to the coffee shop.  
>  喫茶店 **に** 行ってください

Sentences that might be tricky are:

> わたしは 京都 **に** 住んでいます。  
>  I live in Kyoto.

hence the ¨in¨ particle reference.

