Eki-no mae-ni kissaten-ga aru-kara, soko-de matte-ite. (There's a coffee shop in front of the station. Please wait for me there.)

Situation 1: Ms. Yamashita calls Ms. Gray, whom she is planning to meet after work.

山下： 駅に着いたらメールするね。

グレイ： わかった。今、まだ会社にいて、すぐ駅に行けないの。駅の前に喫茶店があるから、そこで待っていて。

Yamashita: Eki-ni tsuitara mēru-suru-ne.

Gray: Wakatta. Ima, mada kaisha-ni ite, sugu eki-ni ikenai-no. Eki-no mae-ni kissaten-ga aru-kara, soko-de matte-ite.

Yamashita: When I arrive at the station, I'll mail you.

Gray: OK. I'm still at the office, so I won't be able to get there anytime soon. There's a coffee shop in front of the station. Please wait for me there.

Today we will introduce the proper use of two particles, に and で, which are used to indicate places. Whether to use に or で depends on the verb. に indicates a place of existence, and verbs such as いる or ある (to be), 泊(と)まる (to stay) and 住(す)む (to live) use に. But when ある shows an event — such as a 会議 (かいぎ, meeting), パーティー (party), 地震 (じしん earthquake) or 火事 (かじ, fire) — it is used with で. Example: あの交差点(こうさてん)で交通事故(こうつうじこ)があった (There was a traffic accident at that crossing). に also indicates a place of destination or direction, and is used with verbs such as 行(い)く (to go), 着(つ)く (to arrive), 留学(りゅうがく)する (to study abroad) or 曲(ま)がる (to turn). Example: あそこの角(かど)を右(みぎ)に曲(ま)がってください (Please turn right at that corner). に also indicates the final location of an object that is moved, as in あの部屋(へや)に荷物(にもつ)を置(お)いた (I put my baggage in that room).

Situation 2: Continued from Situation 1. Ms. Gray meets Ms. Yamashita at the coffee shop.

山下： ここでお茶を飲んでいたら、猫を肩に乗せた男の人が道を歩いて行ったのよ。

グレイ： ああ、猫のおじさんね。あの人はこの町で有名なのよ。

Yamashita: Koko-de o-cha-o nonde-itara, neko-o kata-ni noseta otoko-no-hito-ga michi-o aruite-itta-no-yo.

Gray: Aa, neko-no ojisan-ne. Ano hito-wa kono-machi-de yūmeina-no-yo.

Yamashita: While I was here drinking tea, a man with a cat on his shoulder passed by on the street.

Gray: Oh, he's the "cat man." He's famous around town.

で indicates the place or location of an action, and verbs such as 食(た)べる (to eat) or 遊(あそ)ぶ (to enjoy oneself) are used with で, as in 部屋(へや)で勉強(べんきょう)する (I study in my room). But when the place is a passing point, verbs of movement such as 通(とお)る (to go through), 渡(わた)る (to pass) or 歩(ある)く (to walk) are used with を, as in 横断歩道(おうだんほどう)を渡(わた)りなさい (Go over the pedestrian crossing). で also indicates the limit or range of space, and adjectives or adjective-like expressions such as 有名(ゆうめい)だ (famous), 盛(さか)んだ (prosperous) or 人気(にんき)だ (popular) are used with で. Example: この町(まち)で盛(さか)んな産業(さんぎょう)は何(なん) ですか (What is a flourishing industry in this town?).

Bonus Dialogue: Mr. and Mrs. Shiba are talking about Mr. Shiba's business trip.

夫： 来週(らいしゅう)、京都(きょうと)で国際会議(こくさいかいぎ)があるんだ。だから、土曜日(どようび)に京都に行(い)って、日曜(にちよう)に帰(かえ)るよ。

妻： そう、京都でおいしいものが食(た)べられるね。

夫： うん。でも、ホテルが空(あ)いてなくて、高(たか)いホテルに泊(と)まらなくちゃならないんだ。

妻： 観光客(かんこうきゃく)が観光地(かんこうち)にたくさん来(く)るからなのね。

夫： うん。この前(まえ)も銀座(ぎんざ)でおおぜい見(み)たよ。

妻： 銀座にも京都にもいい店(みせ)があるから、そこで買い物(かいもの)をするのよ。

夫： うん。でも、ぼくは京都でおみやげを買(か)う時間(じかん)はないからね。

妻： だけど、駅(えき)の売店(ばいてん)で買えるでしょう？　待(ま)ってるから。

Husband: We have an international conference in Kyoto next week. So, I'm going to Kyoto on Saturday and coming back Sunday.

Wife: I see. You can eat something delicious in Kyoto.

Husband: Yeah, but because there were no vacancies elsewhere, I have to stay at an expensive hotel.

Wife: Lots of tourists come to the sightseeing spots, right?

Husband: Yeah. I saw a lot in Ginza the other day.

Wife: Because there are good stores in Ginza and Kyoto, they go there to shop.

Husband: Yeah. But I won't have time to buy souvenirs there.

Wife: But you'll be able to buy something in the shop in the station, right? I'll be waiting!