Which sentence is more naturally used?

nalo6451

Kouhai

19 Feb 2017

55

0

• 19 Feb 2017

• #1

Hi friends. So I'm working through Genki 1 and there was this sentence:
でんしゃのなかでたばこをすってもいいですか - Can I smoke in the train?
However, upon revision I realised there is another way to say this is:
でんしゃにたばこをすってもいいですか。
So I'm wondering, which is acceptable/would be more commonly used in every day speech, or would both be used interchangeably?

Thanks

 

Mike Cash

骨も命も皆此の土地に埋めよう

Twenty-year veteran

15 Mar 2002

16,758

2,298

• 19 Feb 2017

• #2

Where did you get the second one? Why is it でんしゃに while the first one is でんしゃのなかで ?

 

nalo6451

Kouhai

19 Feb 2017

55

0

• 19 Feb 2017

• Thread starter
• #3

Maybe I'm wrong but I saw somewhere that に can mean 'in'.
PS I know google translate isn't the best for validation but I don't really have a teacher lol.

 

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Toritoribe

松葉解禁

Moderator

Fifteen-year veteran

22 Feb 2008

18,266

4,926

• 19 Feb 2017

• #4

で indicates the location of action, and に is for the location of existence. たばこをすう is an action, that's why で is correct and に is wrong.

 

nalo6451

Kouhai

19 Feb 2017

55

0

• 19 Feb 2017

• Thread starter
• #5

Thanks