Of all the components of Japanese grammar, none are more fundamental than particles (助詞, joshi). These small words are the essential glue that holds sentences together, defining the roles of words and the relationships between them. Within this broad category, the most crucial group to master is the Case-Marking Particles (格助詞, kakujoshi).
This guide provides a thorough introduction to these essential grammatical signposts, explaining what they do and how to use them correctly.
What Are Case-Marking Particles?
In English, word order is critical. “The cat chased the dog” means something entirely different from “The dog chased the cat.” The subject and object are defined by their position.
Japanese works differently. It uses particles to assign a grammatical role, or “case”, to the noun that precedes it. These particles tell you if a noun is the subject (who is doing the action), the direct object (what is being acted upon), the location, the destination, and so on. Because the particle clarifies the noun’s function, Japanese enjoys a much more flexible word order. We will discus these particles here:
- が
- を
- に
- で
- へ
- の
- と
- から & まで
- より
The Core Case-Marking Particles
が (ga) – The Subject Marker
The particle が primarily marks the grammatical subject of a sentence. It answers the question “who?” or “what?” performed the action. It often identifies new or specific information.
雨が降っています。
あめがふっています。
Ame ga futte imasu.
Rain is falling.
雨 (あめ) = Rain
が = (subject marker)
降っています (ふっています) = is falling
Nuance (が vs. は): Learners often confuse が (ga) with the topic marker は (wa). The simplest distinction is that が identifies the specific subject (answering “who/what?”), while は sets the general topic of conversation (“As for…”).
を (o) – The Direct Object Marker
Pronounced “o,” this particle marks the direct object of a transitive verb. It indicates the person or thing that directly receives the action.
水を飲みます。
みずをのみます。
Mizu o nomimasu.
I drink water.
水 (みず) = Water
を = (direct object marker)
飲みます (のみます) = to drink
Special Use: を is also used to mark a place that is passed through or along, or a point of departure.
公園を散歩します。
こうえんをさんぽします。
Kōen o sanpo shimasu.
I walk through the park.
公園 (こうえん) = Park
を = (marks area of movement)
散歩します (さんぽします) = to take a walk
に – The Multi-Purpose Target Marker
The particle に is incredibly versatile. Its core functions revolve around indicating a target, point of existence, or a specific time.
明日、東京に行きます。
あした、とうきょうにいきます。
Ashita, Tōkyō ni ikimasu.
Tomorrow, I will go to Tokyo. (Destination)
明日 (あした) = Tomorrow
東京 (とうきょう) = Tokyo
に = to (destination marker)
行きます (いきます) = to go
猫は箱の中にいます。
ねこははこのなかにいます。
Neko wa hako no naka ni imasu.
The cat is in the box. (Location of Existence)
猫 (ねこ) = Cat
箱の中 (はこのなか) = Inside the box
に = in (location of existence)
います (います) = to exist (for animate things)
７時に起きます。
しちじにおきます。
Shichi-ji ni okimasu.
I wake up at 7 o’clock. (Specific Time)
７時 (しちじ) = 7 o’clock
に = at (specific time marker)
起きます (おきます) = to wake up
で (de) – The Context Marker (Location of Action & Means)
The particle で marks where a dynamic action happens or how it is performed.
図書館で勉強します。
としょかんでべんきょうします。
Toshokan de benkyō shimasu.
I study at the library. (Location of Action)
図書館 (としょかん) = Library
で = at (location of action marker)
勉強します (べんきょうします) = to study
箸で食べます。
はしでたべます。
Hashi de tabemasu.
I eat with chopsticks. (Means/Method)
箸 (はし) = Chopsticks
で = with (means/method marker)
食べます (たべます) = to eat
Key Distinction (に vs. で): Use に for the location of existence (I am in the library – 図書館にいます). Use で for the location of an action (I study at the library – 図書館で勉強します).
へ – The Direction Marker
Pronounced “e,” this particle marks the general direction of movement. It is often interchangeable with に, but へ emphasizes the journey towards a place rather than the final endpoint.
日本へようこそ。
にほんへようこそ。
Nihon e yōkoso.
Welcome to Japan.
日本 (にほん) = Japan
へ = to (direction marker)
ようこそ = Welcome
の (no) – The Possessive and Linking Marker
The particle の is one of the most common in the language. Its primary role is to show possession or to link nouns together to add description.
これは私の本です。
これはわたしのほんです。
Kore wa watashi no hon desu.
This is my book. (Possession)
これ = This
私 (わたし) = I, me
の = (possessive marker)
本 (ほん) = Book
日本語の先生は親切です。
にほんごのせんせいはしんせつです。
Nihongo no sensei wa shinsetsu desu.
The Japanese language teacher is kind. (Linking/Description)
日本語 (にほんご) = Japanese language
の = (linking particle)
先生 (せんせい) = Teacher
親切 (しんせつ) = Kind
と (to) – The Inclusive Marker (“With” and “And”)
The particle と connects nouns in a complete list (“and”) and indicates accompaniment (“with”). It can also be used to mark quotes.
犬と猫が好きです。
いぬとねこがすきです。
Inu to neko ga suki desu.
I like dogs and cats.
犬 (いぬ) = Dog
と = and
猫 (ねこ) = Cat
好き (すき) = Like
先生と話しました。
せんせいとはなしました。
Sensei to hanashimashita.
I spoke with the teacher.
先生 (せんせい) = Teacher
と = with
話しました (はなしました) = spoke
から (kara) & まで (made) – The Boundary Markers
These two particles often work as a pair to define the start and end points of an action in time or space. から (kara) means “from,” and まで (made) means “until” or “up to.”
会議は9時から5時までです。
かいぎはくじからごじまでです。
Kaigi wa ku-ji kara go-ji made desu.
The meeting is from 9 o’clock until 5 o’clock.
9時 (くじ) = 9 o’clock
から = from
5時 (ごじ) = 5 o’clock
まで = until
より (yori) – The Comparison Marker
The particle より is used in comparisons and means “than.”
今年は去年より暑いです。
ことしはきょねんよりあついです。
Kotoshi wa kyonen yori atsui desu.
This year is hotter than last year.
今年 (ことし) = This year
去年 (きょねん) = Last year
より = than
暑い (あつい) = Hot
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