Particles

Particles (Josh) are small suffix words that define the grammatical function of the word before them. They are essential for Japanese sentence structure.

は

Topic Marker

Indicates the topic of the sentence. Pronounced 'wa' when used as a particle.

Topic

私は学生です

I am a student.

Contrast

肉は食べますが、魚は食べません

I eat meat, but I don't eat fish.

Emphasis (Negative)

それは知りません

I don't know that (but I might know other things).

が

Subject Marker

Indicates the grammatical subject. Used for new information or specific emphasis.

Subject

猫がいる

There is a cat.

Object of Affect

犬が好きです

I like dogs.

Desire

水が飲みたい

I want to drink water.

Ability

日本語が話せます

I can speak Japanese.

But/However

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.

を

Object Marker

Marks the direct object of a verb.

Direct Object

水を飲む

Drink water.

Through/Along

公園を歩く

Walk through the park.

Point of Departure

家を出る

Leave the house.

に

Target / Time

Indicates a destination, specific time, or indirect object.

Destination

東京に行く

Go to Tokyo.

Specific Time

三時に会う

Meet at 3 o'clock.

Location of Existence

家にいる

Be at home.

Indirect Object

友達にプレゼントをあげる

Give a present to a friend.

Purpose

買い物に行く

Go shopping.

Frequency

一週間に三回

Three times a week.

Agent (Passive)

先生に褒められた

I was praised by the teacher.

へ

Direction Marker

Indicates the direction toward a destination. Pronounced 'e' when used as a particle.

Direction

日本へ行きます

I am going to Japan.

Toward (Abstract)

未来へ進む

Advance toward the future.

Welcome

日本へようこそ

Welcome to Japan.

で

Context / Means

Indicates where an action takes place or by what means (tool).

Place of Action

レストランで食べる

Eat at a restaurant.

Means/Tool

バスで行く

Go by bus.

Material

木で作る

Make with wood.

Reason/Cause

病気で休む

Rest due to illness.

Scope/Range

クラスで一番

The best in the class.

Total Amount

全部で千円です

It's 1000 yen in total.

の

Possessive

Connects two nouns. Similar to 's or 'of' in English.

Possessive

私の本

My book.

Modifier

日本語の先生

Japanese teacher.

Apposition

学生の田中さん

Tanaka, the student.

Nominalizer

走るのが好き

I like running.

Sentence-ending (Casual)

今日は忙しいの

Are you busy today? (casual, often feminine)

と

And / With

Connects nouns (exhaustive list) or indicates 'together with'.

And (Complete List)

犬と猫

Dog and cat.

With (Accompaniment)

友達と話す

Talk with a friend.

Quotation

明日雨が降ると思います

I think it will rain tomorrow.

Conditional (When)

春になると暖かくなる

When spring comes, it gets warm.

Comparison

兄と同じ

Same as my older brother.

も

Also / Even

Replaces wa/ga/o to mean 'also', 'too', or 'even'. Can indicate emphasis in negative contexts.

Also/Too

私も学生です

I am also a student.

Both...and

日本語も英語も話せます

I can speak both Japanese and English.

Even

子供も知っている

Even children know.

Not...anything (Negative)

何も食べていない

I haven't eaten anything.

Not...anyone (Negative)

誰もいない

There isn't anyone.

Not...anywhere (Negative)

どこにも行かない

I'm not going anywhere.

Emphasis (Large Quantity)

百人も来た

As many as 100 people came.