2HONGO

Basic Particles

Particles are small but essential words that clarify the role of each part of a Japanese sentence. They follow the words they modify.

は (Topic Marker)

Marks the topic of the sentence. Pronounced "wa" when used as a particle.

  • 私は学生です。

    I am a student.

  • 田中さんは日本人です。

    Tanaka-san is a Japanese person.
を (Object Marker)

Marks the direct object of a verb.

  • 私はりんごを食べます。

    I eat an apple.

  • 水を飲みます。

    I drink water.
へ (Direction)

Indicates movement toward a destination. Pronounced "e" when used as a particle.

  • 日本へ行きます。

    I will go to Japan.

  • 家へ帰ります。

    I will return home.
に (Location / Target)

Destination

Indicates the destination or goal of movement. While closely related to へ, に emphasizes the destination itself, whereas へ focuses on the direction of travel.

  • 日本に行きます。

    I will go to Japan.

  • 学校に行きます。

    I will go to the school.

Location of Existence

Indicates where something or someone is located (with existence verbs like あります or います).

  • ペンは机の上にあります。

    The pen is on the desk.

  • 猫は部屋にいます。

    The cat is in the room.

Indirect Object (Receiver)

Marks the person who receives something in giving/receiving actions.

  • 私は田中さんにプレゼントをもらいました。

    I received a present from Tanaka-san.

  • 友達に本をあげました。

    I gave a book to my friend.

Specific Time

Marks the exact time an action occurs.

  • 三時に会います。

    I will meet at three o'clock.

  • 七時に起きます。

    I will wake up at seven o'clock.
で (Context / Means)

Place of Action

Indicates where an action (an active verb) takes place.

  • 公園で走ります。

    I run in the park.

  • 図書館で勉強します。

    I study at the library.

Tool or Method

Indicates the tool, method, or material used to perform an action.

  • 箸で食べます。

    I eat with chopsticks.

  • バスで行きます。

    I go by bus.
と (Partner / Connection)

Together with

Indicates the person or group you perform an action with.

  • 友達と話します。

    I talk with my friend.

  • 母とデパートへ行きました。

    I went to the department store with my mother.

Connection (And)

Connects two or more nouns in a complete list.

  • 犬と猫

    A dog and a cat

  • りんごとバナナ

    An apple and a banana
か (Choice / Question)

Connects two or more nouns representing a choice (equivalent to "or").

  • りんごかバナナを食べます。

    I eat an apple or a banana.

  • 明日か明後日に会いましょう。

    Let's meet tomorrow or the day after tomorrow.
も (Also / Emphasis)

Also

Replaces は or が to mean "also" or "too".

  • 田中さんも学生です。

    Tanaka-san is also a student.

  • 私もすしが好きです。

    I also like sushi.

Negative Emphasis

Used with question words in negative sentences to mean "none" (nobody, nothing, etc.).

  • 誰もいない。

    There isn't anyone.

  • 何も食べませんでした。

    I didn't eat anything.
の (Possession / Modification)

Shows ownership or clear modification between two nouns (similar to 's).

  • 私の本

    My book

  • 先生の車

    Teacher's car
が (Subject / Connector)

Subject Marker

Indicates the grammatical subject, often for new information or with existence verbs.

  • 猫がいます。

    There is a cat.

  • 机の上に本があります。

    There is a book on the desk.

Object of States

Marks the target of feelings or skills (like, dislike, want, skillful).

  • 私はかわいい動物が好きです。

    I like cute animals.

  • 新しいパソコンが欲しいです。

    I want a new computer.

Connector (But)

Connects two sentences with a contrast (equivalent to "but").

  • 行きたいですが、時間がありません。

    I want to go, but I don't have time.

  • 美味しいですが、高いです。

    It is delicious, but it is expensive.
でも (But / Even)

But (Sentence Connector)

Connects two sentences with a contrast, similar to が but more casual and emphatic. Usually starts a new sentence.

  • 行きたいです。でも、時間がありません。

    I want to go. But I don't have time.

  • 高いです。でも、美味しいです。

    It's expensive. But it's delicious.

Even (After Question Words)

When attached to question words, means "even" or "any" (anyone, anything, anywhere, etc.).

  • 何でも食べます。

    I'll eat anything.

  • 誰でもいいです。

    Anyone is fine.
から (From / Because)

Starting Point (From)

Indicates the starting point in time or space.

  • 九時から

    From 9 o'clock

  • 今日から

    From today

Reason (Because)

Connects two sentences to show cause and effect. The reason comes before から.

  • 雨が降りますから、行きません。

    I won't go because it will rain.

  • 明日テストがありますから、勉強します。

    I'm studying because there's a test tomorrow.
まで (Until / To)

Ending Point (Until/To)

Indicates the ending point in time or space. Often paired with から (from).

  • 東京から大阪まで

    From Tokyo to Osaka

  • 五時まで

    Until 5 o'clock

Extent (Even to the point of)

Emphasizes an extreme or unexpected extent of an action.

  • 朝まで勉強しました。

    I studied until morning.

  • 駅まで歩きました。

    I walked all the way to the station.
くらい (About / Approximately)

Approximation (About)

Indicates an approximate amount, degree, or extent. ぐらい is an alternative pronunciation.

  • 十人くらい

    About 10 people

  • 三時間くらい

    About 3 hours

Degree of Comparison (As much as)

Shows the degree or extent by comparison, often emphasizing it's not a big deal or it's minimal.

  • これくらいできます。

    I can do at least this much.

  • 一時間くらいかかります。

    It takes about an hour.
こそ (Emphasis)

Strong Emphasis

Adds strong emphasis to the word it follows, highlighting it as the true or most important element. Often conveys "precisely" or "indeed".

  • あなたこそ。

    You are the one (I've been looking for).

  • これこそいいです。

    This is good.

Polite Responses

Used in set phrases to politely deflect thanks or apologies back to the other person.

  • こちらこそ、ありがとうございます。

    No, thank you (for your help).