How to Use Particles in Japanese

JAPANESE PARTICLES AND HOW TO USE THEM

Japanese particles and how to use them

1. How to use the particle “は”

Meaning: ～は～: is, at
～は～: the information being conveyed
～N1 は N2 が

Explanation:
– It separates the subject from the predicate in a sentence. The information being conveyed usually comes after は
– It marks the subject of the main clause

Examples:
私はベトナム人です
I am Vietnamese

これは私の本ですよ。
This is my book.

山田さんは英語が上手です。
Mr Yamada is good at English

Note: When the question uses は, the answer uses は too, with the answer replacing the question word

2. How to use the particle も

Meaning: ～も～ : also, as much as, even

Explanation: – Used to describe a thing/quality/action similar to one mentioned earlier, avoiding repeating the particle は or the verb over and over
– It expresses surprise at how much there is
– It expresses a degree that is out of the ordinary (higher or lower)

Examples:
妹喪に日本語も勉強します。
my younger sister studies Japanese too

あなたの家には犬が九匹もいるんですか？
You have as many as 9 dogs?

昨日忙しくて寝る時間もありませんでした。
I was so busy yesterday I had no time to sleep

Note:
– も works like は and が, so it cannot stand next to は or が.
– も can also follow other particles, just like は

Examples:
日曜日ですが、どこへも行きません。
It was Sunday but I didn't go anywhere.

3. How to use the particle で

Meaning : ～で～: at, in, because of, by, with (a span of time)

Explanation:
– It describes the place where an action happens
さくら大学でぺんきょうしています。
I study at Sakura University.

– What you use to do something, or what means of transport you go somewhere by
日本語でレポートを書きます。
I write reports in Japanese.

毎朝バスで会社へきます。
I go to school by bus every day.

– Used to talk about a number of people or things
一万円でパソコンがかえますか？
Can you buy a personal computer for 10,000 yen?

二人で足りますか？
Are 2 people enough?

– Used for a cause such as a natural disaster or an accident
火事でたくさんおひとがなくなりました。
Many people died in the fire.

4. How to use the particle “に”

Meaning: ～に～: direction, place, point in time

Explanation:
– Used for the time an action happens:
日曜日にとまだちとやくそくがあります。
I have an appointment with a friend on Sunday.

– Used for a purpose
ベトナムへ家族に会いに帰ります。
I am going back to Vietnam to see my family.

– The frequency of doing something within a given period
毎日、6時に起きている。
I get up at 6 in the morning every day

5. How to use the particle “へ”

Meaning: ～へ～: direction, place, point in time

Explanation:
– Used for the place the verb is directed towards
京都へ一度いきたいんです。
I would like to go to Japan once.

6. How to use the particle を

Meaning: ～を～：It marks the object of the action

Explanation:
– Used to mark the object or the thing the verb acts on
ピアノをひいています。
I am playing the piano.

もうライスをたべました。
I have already eaten.

– Used to describe the place where a movement takes place
先週この公園を散歩しました。
Last month I went for a walk in this park.

– Used when going from a narrow place to a wider one
家を出て、えきへいきます。
Leaving the house to go to the station.

7. How to use the particle “と”

Meaning : ～と～： and, with

Explanation:
– Used to join 2 nouns together
コーヒーとケーキがとてもおいしいですね。
Coffee and cake are delicious.

– Used to say who you do something with
公園に友達と散歩します。
I went for a walk with a friend.

Note: When doing something on your own you use [ひとりで]. In that case the particle “と” is not used

Examples:
ひとりでスーパーへ行きます。
I went to the supermarket on my own

8. How to use the particle が

Meaning: ～が～：but

Explanation:
– As a connecting particle: used to join 2 clauses with opposite meanings:
タイ料理はおいしいですが、辛いです。
Thai food is delicious but spicy.

日本料理はおいしいですが、とてもたかいです。
Japanese food is delicious but very expensive.

– It emphasises the subject, the doer of the action, in:
+ Questions with no definite subject:
だれがたべましたか？
Who ate it?

+ Sentences about the existence or presence of a person, thing or event:
こんばんやくそくがあります。
I already have plans this evening

いすのうえに本があります。
The book is on the chair

+ Sentences with an adjective or comparisons
このみせがすてきですね。
This shop really is lovely.

日本と中国と、どちらが寒いですか
Which is colder, Japan or China?

日本の方【ほう】が寒いです。
Japan is colder.

+ Sentences about a natural phenomenon:
雪が降っています。
Look, it's snowing.

+ Sentences about ability:
えんぴつがかけますか？
May I write in pencil?

9. How to use the particle “の”

– Used to add further detail about another noun:
英語の辞書
An English dictionary

– Used to show possession
田中さんの傘
That is Mr Tanaka's umbrella.

– Used to say where something comes from
それはイタリアのワインですか？
Is that Italian wine?

– Used to read the “-” in strings of numbers such as house numbers or phone numbers
030-022-6789
Read aloud it becomes 030の０２２の6789

10. How to use the particle “や”
– Like と, や is also used to join 2 nouns, but “や” lists 2 representative items with others besides them, while “と” lists exactly 2 items and no more

箱の中に雑誌や新聞があります。
In the box there are magazines, newspapers and other things.

11. How to use the particles “から” and “まで ”
から means “from”
まで means “until”

Both particles are used for the start and the end when talking about distance or time.

学校から歩きます。
I walk from school.

彼女は病院へ一人で行きます。
She goes to the hospital on her own.

九時から寝ます。
I go to sleep from 9 o'clock.

母は午後誤字まで働きます
My mother works until 5 in the afternoon.

Note: these 2 particles can also be combined in the structure: “から….. まで……”

Examples:
デパートは午前七時から午後十時までです。
The grocery shop is open from 7 in the morning until 10 at night.

12. How to use the particle “までに”
– Used to stress that an action must be finished before a set time.
十二時までにレポートを出しなくればなりません。
The report must be handed in before 12 o'clock.

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Let's learn Japanese particles

This material brings you a way of learning Japanese particles covering:
The definition and use of each particle.
88 particle rules
Some particles that go with に

Download the material: PDF

See also:
Japanese Material on Construction Site Safety
Japanese Vocabulary for Contracts