Basic particles overview
助詞まとめ（は / が / を / に / で）
New Vocablary
あそぶ（遊ぶ）【ASOBU】play
こうえん（公園）【KOUEN】park
ねこ（猫）【NEKO】cat
あつい（暑い）【ATSUI】hot (weather)
だれ（誰）【DARE】who
ぱん（パン）【PAN】bread
ほん（本）【HON】book
みる（見る）【MIRU】see / watch / look
よむ（読む）【YOMU】read
テレビ【TEREBI】TV / television
にちようび（日曜日）【NICHIYOUBI】Sunday
せんせい（先生）【SENSEI】teacher
てがみ（手紙）【TEGAMI】letter
つくえ（机）【TSUKUE】desk
いす（椅子）【ISU】chair
うえ（上）【UE】above / on / up
バス【BASU】bus
はなす（話す）【HANASU】speak / talk
ペン【PEN】pen
1. What are particles?
Japanese uses particles after words to show the role of each part in a sentence.
In English, word order is very important.
In Japanese, particles are very important.
For example:
わたし は 学生。
ねこ が いる。
パン を 食べる。
学校 に 行く。
公園 で 遊びます。
These small words show the meaning clearly.
2. Lesson goal
In this lesson, you will learn the basic roles of these particles:
•は = topic
•が = subject / specific focus
•を = object
•に = destination / time / target
•で = place of action / means
This is an overview lesson.
Don’t try to master everything perfectly right now.
First, learn the basic image of each particle.
3. Overview table
Particle | Basic role | Simple image
は | topic (contrast) | as for…
が | subject (new info) | who/what does it
を | direct object | receives the action
に | destination / time / target | to / at / for
で | place of action / means | at / by / with
4. は – topic marker
は shows the topic of the sentence.
It means:
•as for…
•speaking of…
It does not always mean the subject in the same way as English.
Example
•わたし は 学生。
= As for me, I am a student.
•今日は あつい。
= As for today, it is hot.
Point
Use は when introducing or talking about a topic.
5. が – subject marker
が shows the subject more directly.
It is often used when:
•something exists
•something is noticed
•something is selected
•you want to emphasize who or what
Example
•ねこ が いる。
= There is a cat.
•だれ が 来る？
= Who is coming?
•わたし が やる。
= I will do it.
Point
Use が when the subject is important or specific.
6. は and が
This is one of the hardest points in Japanese.
Simple image
•は = topic
•が = subject / focus
Compare
•わたし は 学生。
= As for me, I am a student.
•わたし が 学生。
= I am the one who is a student.
The second one sounds more focused or emphatic.
Another example
•ねこ は かわいい。
= As for cats, they are cute. / The cat is cute.
•ねこ が かわいい。
= The cat is cute. / It is the cat that is cute.
Beginner tip
At the beginner stage:
•Use は for general statements
•Use が for specific subjects or emphasis
7. を – object marker
を shows the direct object of a verb.
In simple words:
it shows what you eat, drink, read, watch, buy, etc.
Example
•パン を 食べる。
= I eat bread.
•水 を 飲む。
= I drink water.
•本 を 読む。
= I read a book.
•テレビ を 見る。
= I watch TV.
Point
Use を when the verb acts on something.
8. に – destination / time / target
に has several important uses.
1) Destination
•学校 に 行く。
= I go to school.
•日本 に 来る。
= I came to Japan.
2) Time
•7時 に おきる。
= I wake up at 7.
•にちようび に 勉強する。
= I study on Sunday.
3) Target / receiver
•先生 に 聞く。
= I ask the teacher.
•友だち に 手紙を書く。
= I write a letter to my friend.
4) Existence location
•机の上 に 本がある。
= There is a book on the desk.
Point
Use に for:
•where you go
•when something happens
•who receives something
•where something exists
9. で – place of action / means
で is often used for the place where an action happens.
1) Place of action
•こうえん で 遊ぶ。
= I play in the park.
•きょうしつ で 勉強する。
= I study in the classroom.
•レストラン で 食べる。
= I eat at a restaurant.
2) Means / tool
•バス で 行く。
= I go by bus.
•日本語 で 話す。
= I speak in Japanese.
•ペン で 書く。
= I write with a pen.
Point
Use で for:
•where an action happens
•how you do something
•what tool you use
10. に and で
This is another important point.
Simple image
•に = destination / existence
•で = action place
Compare
•学校 に 行きます。
= I go to school.
→ destination
•学校 で 勉強する。
= I study at school.
→ place of action
Another example
•いすの上 に ねこがいる。
= There is a cat on the chair.
→ existence
•いすの上 で 寝る。
= I sleep on the chair.
→ action
Beginner tip
Ask yourself:
•“Is this the place I go to / where something exists?” → に
•“Is this the place where the action happens?” → で
11. Example sentences
Watch example sentences in the video
and check how they are used and pronounced.。
12. Common mistakes
1) Using に for action place
• × 学校 に 勉強する。
• ○ 学校 で 勉強する。
2) Using で for destination
• × 学校 で 行く。
• ○ 学校 に 行く。
3) Confusing は and が
They are related, but not the same.
•は = topic
•が = subject / focus
4) Forgetting を with action verbs
• × パン 食べる。
• ○ パン を 食べる。
In casual conversation, particles are sometimes dropped.
But in beginner study, it is better to keep them.
13. Mini practice
Choose the correct particle.
1 わたし（ ）学生。
2 パン（ ）たべる。
3 がっこう（ ）にく。
4 こうえん（ ）あそぶ。。
5 ねこ（ ）いる。
Answer 1.(は) 2.(を) 3.(に) 4.(で) 5.(が)
14. Key points
•は shows the topic
•が shows the subject or focus
•を shows the object
•に shows destination, time, target, or location (existence)
•で shows the place of action or means
15. Final message
You do not need to master all particles in one day.
Focus on using them in simple sentences.
Practice daily, even a little.