fbpx

0 Comments

February 6, 2024

What are Japanese Particles?

The Ultimate Guide to Basic Japanese Particles

Japanese particles are the small, non-translatable words that tell the function of other words in a sentence.

This section may be the hardest for you to grasp, but reading and re-reading the example sentences should help with understanding. Listen to the sound files, memorize the examples and, just keep in mind, it will get easier with time.

Free for all (no opt-in or anything)

Click to download for free

Click here to download this flow chart.

If you can read German, please check out Florian's website on various topics related to Japanese and Japanese grammar in particular.

Free for all Makoto+ Members

makotoplus member benefits

Makoto+ members, please download your free bonus materials including two PDFs (Printable lesson on a few of these particles + a 20 question quiz) and all the sound files for the とか and が (as a conjunction) sections.


 ABOUT: 
■ が usually indicates what would be the subject of a sentence in English. We say usually because sometimes that task is covered by the particle は (pronounced wa) and with certain verbs, が is used after what would be the direct object in English!

Here are a few ways in which が is used:

  • が identifies specific or new information
  • が is used after question words
  • が is the subject of subordinate clauses
  • が is used after the direct object of verbs that describe desire or ability


 How to Use:

New Information: When the subject gives the listener new information, use が.

Here is an example where we introduce a cat with が but switch to は when the cat becomes the topic:

昨日(きのう)(ねこ)いた。

Translation and Vocabulary

その(ねこ)茶色(ちゃいろ)だった。

Translation and Vocabulary

In the first sentence, the cat, as new information, is introduced with a が. The cat is the subject and answers the unspoken question, "What was there yesterday?" But it is not the topic of the conversation yet. If anything, the "topic" is "yesterday." You are simply establishing the fact there was a cat.

In the second sentence, the cat is now being described particularly and therefore, it is the topic of the conversation.

Now that the cat is labeled as the topic, you don't have to keep mentioning the cat.

For example, this might be the next sentence:

 可愛(かわい)かった。

Translation and Vocabulary


Question Words take : When question words like (なに) (what), だれ (who), or どこ (where) are the subject, they always take が.

(なに) (what)

だれ (who)

どこ (where)

だれケーキを()べた?

Translation and Vocabulary

(なに)ほしい?

Translation and Vocabulary


Use for Subordinate Clauses: Since a subordinate clause is apart from the topic (は), use が unless there is a contrast. The が essentially becomes the "subject" of the clause.

(わたし)は、ビルいたことを()らなかった。

Translation and Vocabulary


Direct Object : が marks the object of verbs that show desire or ability

(わたし)は、(ねこ)()きです。

Translation and Vocabulary

In English, what we would consider the subject (I) is actually the topic. What follows relates to this topic (whatever the topic—I—likes). And what we would consider the object (cats) could be thought of as the subject of the verb.

This happens with verbs or adjectives that show desire, ability, or possibility. You could still think of it as "subject of the clause" though. For example, (わたし)は、(ねこ)()きです could be thought of as "The cat (subject) is likeable to me." But it's probably less confusing to think of it as a "direct object marker after verbs that show desire or ability."

Some common transitive verbs/adjectives that usually take が are:

()き (to like)

あなた()きです。

Translation and Vocabulary

(きら)い (dislike)

(わたし)は、牛乳(ぎゅうにゅう)(きら)いで

Translation and Vocabulary

ほしい (to want)

日本(にほん)(くるま)ほしいです。

Translation and Vocabulary

できる (to be able to)

スコットは、日本語(にほんご)できます

Translation and Vocabulary

MAIN POINTS:

■ Use が for new information

■ Question words take が instead of は

■ Use が with subordinate clauses

■ が is used with some transitive verbs (takes an object) that show desire or ability even though the word it marks would be considered a direct object.


 ABOUT: 
■ As mentioned previously, は and が are very similar. There are three main uses for は as a particle: marking the topic, showing contrast, and adding emphasis (especially to the predicate).


Study Notes:

■ Oftentimes you can think of は as "as for …" or "speaking of …"


 How to Use:

Marks the Topic: Use to mark the topic of what the rest of the sentence is about or describing. This is normally placed at the beginning of the sentence.

(わたし)、サムです。アメリカから()ました。

Translation and Vocabulary


Adds Emphasis and Contrast: Use は to show contrast.

ペンをもっていますか?

Translation and Vocabulary

ペンあります。でもノートがありません。

Translation and Vocabulary

The contrasting は can be thought of as "I don't know about other things, but as for …"

When は is used for contrast or emphasis, it is usually in place of が or を.

Two more examples showing contrast:

(かれ)(あか)()きだが、(わたし)あか(きら)だ。

Translation and Vocabulary

テレビは()ないが、映画(えいが)()る。

Translation and Vocabulary

Consider the following comparison between が and は:

すしが()きです。

Translation and Vocabulary

すし()きです。

Translation and Vocabulary

MAIN POINTS:

■ は sets the overall topic, can show contrast, and can add emphasis. 

■ は is mostly used for things the listener knows about. Therefore, question words (who, what, where…) cannot be used with は.

■ は takes over が when the subject is also the topic.

■ If there is a は and a が in the sentence, the は usually—but not always—goes first.

は~が


 ABOUT: 
■ Continuing our look at these two troublesome particles, here is perhaps the most common sentence construction in Japanese.


 How to Use:

■AはBがC。

In this construction, C tells us something about B and B tells us something about A, since A is the overall topic.

(わたし)、おなかすきました。

Translation and Vocabulary


■ When the listener knows the topic (A), the speaker can drop it since B and C are the core information.

おなかがすきました。 

Translation and Vocabulary

Another example:

日本(にほん)地震(じしん)(おお)(くに)です。

Translation and Vocabulary



MAIN POINTS:

■ は almost always comes first

■ は is usually dropped once the listener knows what the topic is.


 ABOUT: 
■ This is the direct object marker. It is usually spoken as "o" in modern Japanese although originally it was "wo." Some native speakers do sometimes voice the "w" today. But as a rule, pronounce it the same as お.

It is not, however, a substitute for お. を is only used (in modern Japanese) for the direct object marker.


 How to Use:

Marks the Direct Object: In English, we don't have a particle that shows the direct object. A direct object is the object that a transitive verb acts upon.

A transitive verb is simply a verb that has an object. For example: I carried a book. ("Carried" is a transitive verb). Just saying "I carried" sounds incomplete. That's because it really needs an object. 

(わたし)は、(ほん)()みました

Translation and Vocabulary


Study Notes:

Caution: This particle is pretty straightforward. Just put it after the direct object. The main exception is with some verbs, が or に replaces を after what would be the direct object in English.

(わたし)は、あなたが()きです。

Translation and Vocabulary


(わたし)は、あなたに()いたいです。

Translation and Vocabulary



MAIN POINTS:

■ を is almost always pronounced "o" in modern Japanese. But to type it on the keyboard, you'll need to press "wo."

■ を is replaced with が or に when certain verbs are used.


 ABOUT: 
■ This particle is used for several distinct purposes. As a simplification, you can say に is a time, location and direction marker. It also shows what the indirect object is (who or what the action is directed to)


 How to Use:

Here are a few of the most common uses for the versatile に.

Time: Use to indicate times or dates in which something takes place.

(あさ)()()()きます。

Translation and Vocabulary

日本(にほん)学校(がっこう)は、四月(しがつ)(はじ)まります。

Translation and Vocabulary


Location: Use に to indicate location of existence. In; at; on

ここ(ほん)があります。

Translation and Vocabulary

(かみ)()()きました。

Translation and Vocabulary

Direction or Movement Toward: Use に to show movement toward something. To; toward

東京(とうきょう)()きたいです。

Translation and Vocabulary

(みぎ)まがってください。

Translation and Vocabulary

Indirect Object Marker: Use に after the object receiving the action. Think of it as "to" or "for."

(わたし)は、お(とう)さんケーキを()いました。

Translation and Vocabulary

先生(せんせい)は、生徒(せいと)日本語(にほんご)(おし)えました。

Translation and Vocabulary


 ABOUT: 
■ Like に, で has many uses and is equally important. We will look at で to indicate location and the use of something.


 How to Use:

Indicates location: Use for location of existence [ここにいる (I) am here.] but for other locations, is used. "In," "at," "on"

日本(にほん)勉強(べんきょう)しました。

Translation and Vocabulary


本屋(ほんや)日本語(にほんご)(ほん)()いました。

Translation and Vocabulary


Indicates the use of something: Use when using something to do something. "By," "using," "in," "from," "for"

(くるま)()きましょう。

Translation and Vocabulary


テレビ、その映画(えいが)()ました。

Translation and Vocabulary


 ABOUT: 

■ へ indicates direction or movement toward a goal. Very often に can be used whenever へ is used.


 How to Use:

Use after the location or goal the action is moving toward. To; towards


Examples:

Note: in the following examples, に could also be used.

日本(にほん)()きたいです。

Translation and Vocabulary


友達(ともだち)手紙(てがみ)()きました。

Translation and Vocabulary


 ABOUT: 

■ と is a particle that shows relationships. We will look at four different usages for this important particle. And; shows relationship; quotation marker; conditional: if then…


 How to Use:

And: Using for "and" indicates you have a full list of items. This shouldn't be used for open ended lists. Place it after each item in the list. The after the last item is usually omitted but can be said.

(わたし)は、りんごみかんを()いました。

Translation and Vocabulary

フランス()英語(えいご)(はな)せます。

Translation and Vocabulary

MAIN POINTS:

  • Placed after each item.
  • Usually omitted after the final item in the list.
  • Used only with nouns and noun phrases (lists of things) and can't be used to combine sentences.
  • Must be an exhaustive list (not open ended).


Shows a relationship: When someone does something with someone else or when something is paired with something else, use . With; as; from

(わたし)は、ジム映画(えいが)()ました。

Translation and Vocabulary

と is common with verbs that require two people or things to interact with each other. Verbs like 結婚(けっこん)する (to marry); (はな)す (to speak); ()る (to resemble); 喧嘩(けんか)する (to argue)


ジムは、先生(せんせい)けんかしました。

Translation and Vocabulary


Conditional: Use to show if this than that. If; when; upon doing so

洗濯(せんたく)をする(あめ)がふります。

Translation and Vocabulary

説明書(せつめいしょ)()、すぐ()かります。

Translation and Vocabulary


Quotation or sound marker: Use to end quotes or set off sounds or ideas.

「おはよう」先生(せんせい)()いました。

Translation and Vocabulary


Indirect Quotation It can also be used to close indirect quotations, internal thoughts, or sound effects.

いけない(おも)ったので、やめました。

Translation and Vocabulary


■ Adverbs - And it makes sound words into adverbs.

子供(こども)は、ぱたぱた(はし)りました。

Translation and Vocabulary


から


 ABOUT: 

■ から can show a starting point (from; since), indicate what happens after some point (having done that …), or express a reason (because of that).


 How to Use:

A starting point: Used with time and locations. From; since

(ろく)()から(しち)()まで。

Translation and Vocabulary


(わたし)は、アメリカから()ました。

Translation and Vocabulary


ここから(えき)までは(ちか)いです。

Translation and Vocabulary


What happens next: Since the starting point shows a state in the past, it is followed by how it changed.

信号(しんごう)は、(あか)から(あお)()わりました。

Translation and Vocabulary


Giving a Reason: から comes after the reason or cause and, if needed, is followed by the effect of that cause. Because; therefore; because of that

(あい)しているから

Translation and Vocabulary


あした、テストがあるから勉強(べんきょう)しています。

Translation and Vocabulary

まで


 ABOUT: 

■ まで shows an ending point. Until; as far as; up to


 How to Use:

An ending point: Used with time and locations. Until; by; up to

Examples:

(ろく)()から(しち)()まで

Translation and Vocabulary


(いえ)まで10(じゅっ)(ぷん)かかります。

Translation and Vocabulary


(わたし)(くるま)は、()(にん)まで()れます。

Translation and Vocabulary


 ABOUT: 

■ や is used to list two or more nouns or noun phrases.


Study Notes:

■ While similar to と when it means "and", や is not an exhaustive list. And; such things as … and …


Examples:

(みせ)で、牛乳(ぎゅうにゅう)パンを()いました。

Translation and Vocabulary


()きな動物(どうぶつ)は、(ねこ)(いぬ)イルカです。

Translation and Vocabulary


 ABOUT: 

■ も means "too" or "also" but it has other slightly different usages: both A and B; even … (used for emphasis). Let's take a look.


How to Use:

Too; also; either: Use after the word it modifies.

田中(たなか)さん()きます。

Translation and Vocabulary


Both A and B: Use after both included words.

(わたし)あなた()きます。

Translation and Vocabulary


Even …: Use after the word you wish to emphasize.

子供(こども)は、(ひと)人参(にんじん)()べませんでした。

Translation and Vocabulary


It is often used to show surprise.

こんなに(おお)きな(ふね)あるんですか?

Translation and Vocabulary


Other Forms:

■ Some common words with も:

(わたし)
me too

あなたも
you also


 ■ Here are a few common question words using this form of も: 

(だれ)
no one

(なに)
nothing


 ABOUT: 

■ Most likely, one of the first things you learned about Japanese grammar was か is an end-sentence question marker. It is also used to show alternatives and suggest uncertainty.


How to Use:

Question Marker: Used to indicate a question.

(いま)何時(なんじ)です

Translation and Vocabulary


Suggests Uncertainty: is added to question words to show uncertainty. some~ : いつか someday; どこか somewhere; (なに)か something

いつ日本(にほん)どこ()きたいです。

Translation and Vocabulary


Other Forms:

■ One common expression is かどうか (whether or not…). This is often used without the どうか.

宿題(しゅくだい)があるかどうか()りません。

Translation and Vocabulary

Is the same thing as:

宿題(しゅくだい)がある()りません。

Translation and Vocabulary


 ABOUT: 

■ の is to indicate the possessive and it also limits information. It is also used to nominalize (make noun phrases from verbs and adjectives).


How to Use:

Possessive: Shows a relationship between two nouns or noun phrases. The apostrophe S. 

これは、マイク(ほん)です。

Translation and Vocabulary

The connection can be extended and nested:

これは、マイク友達(ともだち)(ほん)です。

Translation and Vocabulary


■ Limiter: While you can sometimes still see this as a "possessive" what the の really does is "limits" information

テーブル(した)

Translation and Vocabulary

日本語(にほんご)ソフト

Translation and Vocabulary


■ Descriptive Names: の is also used in descriptive names and titles:

くまプーさん

Translation and Vocabulary


As a pronoun/nominalizer: This means it can turn verbs and adjectives into noun phrases.

Think of it as "one" as in:
This is a big one.

昨日(きのう)()った()せて。

Translation and Vocabulary

You can use this の pronoun/nominalizer to point out something specific:

(あか)がほしい。

Translation and Vocabulary

とか


 ABOUT: 

■ とか is a versatile Japanese particle used to indicate examples in a non-exhaustive list, suggesting that there are other items or possibilities not mentioned.


How to Use:

■ Listing Examples or Possibilities (Similar to "etc." or "and so on" or "things like"): とか is often used to list examples implying there are other unspoken examples. Place after each example in the list. とか can connect nouns, verbs, and adjectives. When used after a verb or adjective, the verb or adjective is typically in its plain form.

りんごとかバナナとか

Translation and Vocabulary

Oftentimes など which is similar to “etc.” is used in place of the last example.

学校(がっこう)英語(えいご)とかフランス()とかドイツ()など勉強(べんきょう)しました。

Translation and Vocabulary


■ Indicating Uncertainty or Hesitation: It can be used to suggest that the speaker is uncertain or hesitant about the specifics.

明日(あした)映画(えいが)とか()()く?

Translation and Vocabulary

(なに)()む?お(ちゃ)とかコーラとか。。。

Translation and Vocabulary

Here, とか softens the suggestion, making it sound more casual and less direct.


■ Connecting Phrases or Actions (Similar to "and" or "or"): It can be used to connect phrases or actions, often implying a casual or informal tone.

週末(しゅうまつ)(いえ)読書(どくしょ)とかして()ごす。

Translation and Vocabulary


■ In Reported Speech (Similar to "said" or "like"): "とか" is also used in reported speech to indicate that what is being said is not a direct quote but a paraphrase.

(かれ)来週来(らいしゅうく)とか()ってた。

Translation and Vocabulary

が (but)


 ABOUT: 

■ The particle "が" is known primarily as a subject marker, but it can also be used as a conjunction, similar to "but" in English.


How to Use:

This usage is common in both spoken and written Japanese and is used to express contrast or contradiction between two statements.

Structure

When used as "but," "が" typically follows a clause and precedes another clause, showing a contrast or an unexpected outcome. The structure is:

[Clause 1] が [Clause 2]

(かれ)(わか)経験(けいけん)豊富(ほうふ)だ。

Translation and Vocabulary

Usage

■ Contrast or Unexpected Outcome: "が" is used to introduce a statement that contrasts with or somewhat contradicts what was mentioned earlier.

Notes: Softer than “でも” or “しかし”: While "でも" and "しかし" also mean "but," "が" is often softer and more commonly used in everyday conversation.

Examples

天気(てんき)はいい(かぜ)(つよ)い。

Translation and Vocabulary

(かれ)親切(しんせつ)(すこ)(はな)しすぎる。

Translation and Vocabulary

映画(えいが)面白(おもしろ)かった(なが)すぎた。

Translation and Vocabulary

(くま)のプーさんが ()きですドラえもんはあまり()きじゃない。

Translation and Vocabulary

It is also often used when trailing off and leaving the rest of the thought unsaid.

毎日練習(まいにちれんしゅう)します。。。

Translation and Vocabulary

Sharing is caring!

{"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}

Level up your Japanese!

free-kanji-or-hiragana-offer-final

For Total Beginners

Japanese for beginners - Beri-Beri Shoshinsha

This 15-book study guide + worksheets bundle is ON SALE. For just one-time payment only, you will get this bundle for a very low price plus you will get future contents for free (no additional charge).

Easy to follow and understand

This bundle is perfect for absolute beginners. It's thorough without being wordy, giving you exactly enough information to understand the concepts without overloading you with information. 

TheJapanShop.com Customer

Makoto+ Membership

You'll notice many TheJapanesePage.com lessons have bonus content for Makoto+ Members. Well, membership goes well beyond that. Members also get our monthly magazine for learners of Japanese (Beginners to Intermediates), weekly exclusive lessons, Podcast bonus content, and much more.

>