に/で as time particles. What's the difference?


I've read a post on this topic, but really not sure of the difference when
applied to something like this:

> 私は朝飯のみ **に** 茶を飲む  
>  私は朝飯のみ **で** 茶を飲む

From what I read, I'm guessing one of them is incorrect, as に is used for
specific times and で for ranges of time in which an action happened. So I'm
guessing に is the incorrect one. Could someone confirm me this please?




You say 「[朝]{あさ}ごはん _に_ 」「[朝食]{ちょうしょく} _に_ 」「[朝飯]{あさめし}に」 for " _for_
breakfast".

> 私は朝飯のみに茶を飲む

→ I would rather say it this way:

> 私は[朝食]{ちょうしょく}[時]{じ} _に_ のみお茶を飲む。  
>  私は朝ごはん(or朝食)の[時]{とき}( _に_ )だけお茶を飲む。  
>  私は朝ごはん(or朝食)の[時]{とき}( _に_ )しかお茶を飲まない。etc.  
>  ("I only drink tea at breakfast", or in other words, "The only time I drink
> tea is (at) breakfast").

You use に for [時]{とき} and [時]{じ}, too.

If you want to use [朝飯]{あさめし} (and probably if you're a guy) I think you'd say
it like this:

> [俺]{おれ}は[朝飯]{あさめし}の[時]{とき}(に)だけ[茶]{ちゃ}を飲む。  
>  俺は朝飯の時(に)しか茶を飲まない。

* * *

By the way, you'd say 私は朝食(or朝ごはん)にお茶 _しか_ 飲ま _ない_ to say "I have only tea for
breakfast", or "Tea is the only drink I have at breakfast."

