Japanese Particles Explained

What particles do

Particles are short words placed after a noun to show its role. They work much like the postpositions को, में and से in Hindi. Because particles carry the meaning, word order in Japanese can be flexible.

は: the topic

は (pronounced “wa”) sets the topic: “as for X …”. 私は 学生です: As for me, I am a student. It also shows contrast: 肉は 食べますが、魚は 食べません: I eat meat, but (as for fish) I don't eat fish.

が: the subject and new information

が marks the subject, often when the information is new or is the focus. 誰が 来ましたか, Who came? 田中さんが 来ました, Tanaka-san came. It is also used with words like 好き, 分かる and ある: 猫が 好きです: I like cats.

を: the object

を (pronounced “o”) marks the direct object of an action. 本を 読みます, I read a book. コーヒーを 飲みます, I drink coffee.

に: time, destination, existence

• Time: 7時に 起きます: I get up at 7.
• Destination: 学校に 行きます: I go to school.
• Existence: 部屋に 猫が います: There is a cat in the room.
• Recipient: 友達に 手紙を 書きます: I write a letter to a friend.

で: place of action and means

で marks where an action happens and the means of doing it. 図書館で 勉強します, I study at the library. バスで 行きます, I go by bus. 日本語で 話します: I speak in Japanese.

Other particles you will meet early

• の: possession: 私の 本 (my book)
• と: and / with: 友達と 行きます (go with a friend)
• も: also: 私も 学生です (I'm a student too)
• へ: direction: 日本へ 行きます (go towards Japan)
• から / まで: from / until: 9時から 5時まで

Common mix-ups

に vs で: に is where something exists or where you go; で is where you do something. 公園に います (I'm in the park) but 公園で 遊びます (I play in the park).

は vs が: start with the rule “は for the topic, が for the new information”, and refine it with lots of reading.