Particles are short words that follow nouns, verbs, or phrases to indicate their grammatical function. Unlike English prepositions, Japanese particles always come after the word they modify. Mastering these 10 core particles gives you the skeleton of every sentence you will ever construct in Japanese.
は (wa) � Topic Marker
Pronounced "wa" (not "ha"), this particle marks the topic of the sentence � what the sentence is primarily about. It does not necessarily mark the grammatical subject; it frames the conversation.
わたしはがくせいです。
Watashi wa gakusei desu. � "As for me, I am a student."
は also creates implicit contrast: 「コーヒーはすきですが、おちゃはちょっと。」(I like coffee, but tea is... not so much.) The contrast is implied, not stated.
が (ga) � Subject Marker
Marks the grammatical subject � who or what performs the action. が is used when introducing new information, answering "who?" questions, or using adjectives that express feelings (好き, 嫌い, できる, わかる).
だれがきましたか？
Dare ga kimashita ka? � "Who came?" (が marks who performed the action)
にほんごがすきです。
Nihongo ga suki desu. � "I like Japanese." (With 好き, the liked thing takes が)
を (wo/o) � Direct Object Marker
Marks the direct object of a transitive verb � the thing that receives the action. Pronounced "o" in modern Japanese (the "w" is silent).
すしをたべます。
Sushi wo tabemasu. � "I eat sushi." (sushi is the object of eating)
えいごをべんきょうします。
Eigo wo benkyou shimasu. � "I study English." (English is the object being studied)
に (ni) � Direction, Time, Indirect Object
One of the most versatile particles. に indicates a specific point in time, a destination of movement, or the target of an action or feeling.
3じにいきます。
3-ji ni ikimasu. � "I will go at 3 o'clock." (specific time point)
がっこうにいきます。
Gakkou ni ikimasu. � "I go to school." (destination of movement)
で (de) � Location of Action, Means
Marks the location where an action takes place, or the means/method used to do something. It is different from に: に marks existence/destination (where something IS or goes TO), while で marks where an action HAPPENS.
としょかんでよみます。
Toshokan de yomimasu. � "I read at the library." (library = location of the action reading)
でんしゃでいきます。
Densha de ikimasu. � "I go by train." (train = means of going)
の (no) � Possessive & Linking
Functions similarly to the English possessive 's or "of". Connects two nouns where the first modifies or possesses the second.
にほんごのほん
Nihongo no hon � "Japanese book" / "book of Japanese"
わたしのともだち
Watashi no tomodachi � "my friend"
と (to) � And / With
Connects nouns ("A and B") or indicates doing something together with someone ("with X").
ともだちといきます。
I go with a friend.
も (mo) � Also / Too
Replaces は or が to mean "also" or "too". Used when something is additionally true.
わたしもがくせいです。
I am also a student.
か (ka) � Question
Placed at the end of a sentence to turn it into a yes/no question. No rising intonation needed in formal speech.
にほんじんですか？
Are you Japanese?