へ

へ
particle
direction marker (toward)
1. direction/goal marker
Marks the direction of movement or destination. Emphasizes the direction of travel rather than the arrival point. Used with motion verbs like 行(い)く, 来(く)る, 帰(かえ)る.
東京(とうきょう)へ行(い)く。
To go to Tokyo.
右(みぎ)へ曲(ま)がってください。
Please turn right.
明日(あした)、山(やま)へハイキングに行(い)きます。
Tomorrow I'm going hiking in the mountains.
海(うみ)へ向(む)かって走(はし)ったら、とても気持(きも)ちがよかった。
When I ran toward the sea, it felt great.
夏休(なつやす)みに家族(かぞく)で北海道(ほっかいどう)へ旅行(りょこう)に行(い)って、おいしいものをたくさん食(た)べた。
During summer vacation, I traveled to Hokkaido with my family and ate lots of delicious food.
2. addressee marker (formal)
Used in formal writing, especially letters, to indicate the recipient. 田中様(たなかさま)へ (To Mr./Ms. Tanaka).
田中様(たなかさま)へ
To Mr./Ms. Tanaka
Formal letter addressee
お客様(おきゃくさま)へのお知(し)らせ
Notice to customers
先生(せんせい)へのお礼(れい)の手紙(てがみ)を書(か)いた。
I wrote a thank-you letter to the teacher.
社長(しゃちょう)へのメールは丁寧(ていねい)に書(か)いてください。
Please write emails to the company president politely.
卒業(そつぎょう)する友達(ともだち)へ、みんなで色紙(しきし)にメッセージを書(か)いた。
We all wrote messages on a card for our graduating friend.

へ marks direction of movement and is pronounced 'e' (not 'he') when used as a particle. It's largely interchangeable with に for motion verbs, but emphasizes the direction rather than the arrival point.

KEY DISTINCTION FROM に:

  • へ = direction/orientation (heading toward)
  • に = destination/arrival (getting there)

へ CANNOT replace に for:

へ is common in formal writing and letters (田中様(たなかさま)へ). The pattern への creates a noun modifier: 成功(せいこう)への道(みち) (road to success).

Related Words

Contrast: に (destination/location)
basic
Added 2026.1.11 21:27 · Revised 2026.3.24 8:56
02000/02473_he