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While studying the basic functions of particles, I came across the following sentence:

パンにコーヒーか紅茶を飲みます (I have coffee or tea with / together with bread)

I don't know if this is the correct translation of that Japanese phrase, but it is nevertheless a usage of the particle に that I had not seen before and that I do not seem to find much about online.

What would the literal translation of that phrase be in English? What is the function of the particle in this case?

I have heard that this type of expression is used while ordering something in a restaurant or while buying things, as well as when describing what someone is wearing (as in "スーツにスニーカーを履く).

Gyabu_7
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2 Answers2

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You are correct. There are other definitions of this に such as

  • to (公園に行きます/I’m going to the park)
  • for (ケ-キ作るために牛乳を使う/I will use the milk for the cake)
  • as (私にはカッコいいと思う/to[as] me, I think it’s cool)

There are many others, too. You can take a look at them here. In this case, the に is being used as “with” because of it being noun (パン) + noun/phrase of it being an item (コ-ヒ-か紅茶) + indication of the object (を) + verb having to do with the two nouns (飲みます).

Edit: I would translate it as “On top of bread, I’ll have coffee or tea.” The reason being the physical actions taken for eating bread is different from drinking coffee or tea.

Eddie Kal
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leguchi
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に can mean addition (添加 #8 here).

It can be considered as with, but it adds a nuance of in addition to, on top of. Other than those in questions,

  • 小麦粉に卵を混ぜる throw egg to flour and stir
  • ソーセージにビールが最高 Beer (in addition) to sausages is the best

FYI some other に/と questions.

sundowner
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