Ni or e?

[maji]

hi, straightforward question, but I wasn't sure about this one:
when I want to say something like

watashi wa keiko-san tegami ni kakimasu.

Is then "ni kakimasu" or "e kakimasu" correct? I know the difference between e and ni in matters of moving, but if both are correct, what would be in this matter the difference in the meaning of the sentence?
thx for any replies

 

[SacredBlue]

watashi wa keiko-san tegami ni kakimasu.

I think it would be..「私はケイコさんに手紙を書きます。」
'watashi wa keiko-san ni tegami o kakimasu'
Therefore you are *writing* the letter *to* Keiko.
Someone can correct me if I'm wrong though
(Katakana used just to illustrate Keiko is a name, not sure of the kani for it.)

 

[Buntaro]

I would say "keiko-san ni tegami o kakimasu."

~~~

"ni" refers to action towards something, and reaching that point.

"e" refers to action towards something, in the general direction, but not necessarily reaching the target.


~~~

Consider these sentences regarding swimming in a river:

kawa ni oyogu = swim into a river (from outside the river, like from the sea)

kawa e oyogu = swim towards a river

kawa de oyogu = swim in a river

kawa o oyogu = swim the entire length of a river


"ni" can also refer to what I call actionless action, or action without motion: Tokyo ni sunde imasu = I live in Tokyo.

 

[Elizabeth]

Another recent thread.... Ni can stand for a lot of English prepositions by the way: in, for, to, sometimes from.

e and ni | Japan Forum

 

[Glenn]

Originally posted by Buntaro
I would say "keiko-san ni tegami o kakimasu."

~~~

"ni" refers to action towards something, and reaching that point.

"e" refers to action towards something, in the general direction, but not necessarily reaching the target.

I would phrase it that way as well, but I find this interesting: using "ni" in this sentence seems more natural to me (although I am a non-native speaker, so take that for whatever it is worth), but saying "Keiko e no tegami" for "a letter to Keiko" is perfectly acceptable, and I believe more common. Perhaps it has something to do with "no" overriding "ni" in these situations...

 

[Elizabeth]

Originally posted by Glenn
I would phrase it that way as well, but I find this interesting: using "ni" in this sentence seems more natural to me (although I am a non-native speaker, so take that for whatever it is worth), but saying "Keiko e no tegami" for "a letter to Keiko" is perfectly acceptable, and I believe more common. Perhaps it has something to do with "no" overriding "ni" in these situations...

Actually I think it's the only way you can say sending a letter to Keiko as opposed to sending Keiko a letter, or Sore wa Keiko e no tegami desu (This is a letter for Keiko). And the pattern shows up across a variety of different situations ("Shakai e no houshi wa dare ni demo motomerarete imasu." (Community service is required of everyone))....not for the community, just towards.