Particles

This is a quick summary of common particles, and it is by no means complete; for more details, go to a grammar book.

Particle Examples

ka At the end of a sentence, this particle turns the sentence into a question.

darega sushiwo tabemasuka
Who
subject		 sushi
object		 eats?
verb
Who eats sushi?

wo This particle always marks the direct object of a sentence and is pronounced o rather than wo.

nakamurasanga sushiwo tabemasu
Nakamura-san
subject		 sushi
object		 eats
verb
Nakamura-san eats sushi.

no This particle is used to indicate possession.

*desu is a special verb; it already contains a particle, so you don’t use ga or ha with it.

shimadasanno hon desu
Shimada-san of
possessive		 book
subject		 is
verb
[This] is Shimada-san’s book.

ni This particle is used in many different ways: to indicate location (in/at), time (at), and the recipient of giving.

toukiyouha nihonni arimasu
Tokyo as-for
topic		 Japan-in
place		 is
verb
Tokyo is in Japan.
denshiyaha ekini arimasu
The train as-for
topic		 station-at
place		 is
verb
The train is at the station.
nakamurasanha sanjini tsukimasu
Nakamura-san as-for
topic		 three o’clock-at
time		 arrives
verb
Nakamura-san arrives at three o’clock.
nakamurasanha shimadasanni honwo agemasu
Nakamura-san as-for
topic		 Shimada-san to
indirect obj.		 book
object		 gives
verb
Nakamura-san gives the book to Shimada-san.

he Pronounced like e (ĕ) when used as particle, it means “to” or “into” with verbs of motion.

shimadasanha toukiyouhe ikimasu
Shimada-san as-for
topic		 Tokyo to
place		 goes
verb
Shimada-san goes to Tokyo.
nakamurasanha ga*kohe hairimasu
Nakamura-san as-for
topic		 school into
place		 enters
verb
Nakamura-san enters into the school.

to Used to mean and or with.

watashiha honto kamito enpitsuwo kaimasu
I
topic		 book and
object		 paper and
object		 pencil
object		 buy
verb
I buy a book and paper and pencil