Japanese Grammar

The Ultimate Particles Cheat Sheet

Particles are the glue that holds Japanese sentences together. This guide summarizes the 7 most important particles you need for JLPT N5.

What are Particles?

In English, we use word order (Subject-Verb-Object) to know who did what. In Japanese, word order is flexible. Instead, we attach small words called 'particles' after nouns to show their role in the sentence.

If you use the wrong particle, the entire meaning of the sentence changes. 'Dog bites man' vs 'Man bites dog' is decided by particles in Japanese!

Let's review the 7 essential particles for beginners.

The 7 Essential Particles

1. は (wa) - The Topic Marker

Usage

→Introduces the topic (As for X...)

Written as 'ha' but pronounced 'wa'

私は学生です

→Watashi wa gakusei desu

I am a student

2. が (ga) - The Subject Marker

Usage

→Identifies WHO did the action, or new info

Used with suki, dekiru, hoshii

犬が好きです

→Inu ga suki desu

I like dogs

3. を (o) - The Direct Object

Usage

→The thing receiving the action

Written as 'wo' but pronounced 'o'

りんごを食べる

→Ringo o taberu

Eat an apple

4. に (ni) - Destination / Time / Existence

Usage

→Target of movement, specific time, or existence

The 'pinpoint' particle

３時に日本に行く

→3-ji ni Nihon ni iku

Go to Japan at 3 o'clock

5. で (de) - Location of Action / Means

Usage

→Where an action happens, or HOW you do it

By means of, at

電車で学校で勉強する

→Densha de gakkou de benkyou suru

Study at school (going) by train

6. へ (e) - Direction

Usage

→Direction of movement

Written as 'he' but pronounced 'e'. Similar to 'ni'

東京へ行く

→Toukyou e iku

Head towards Tokyo

7. と (to) - 'And' / 'With'

Usage

→Connecting nouns, or doing something WITH someone

Only connects nouns, not sentences

友達とパンと肉を食べる

→Tomodachi to pan to niku o taberu

Eat bread and meat with a friend

One sentence using many particles

私は、日曜日【に】友達【と】バス【で】海【へ】行きました。

Watashi wa, nichiyoubi [ni] tomodachi [to] basu [de] umi [e] ikimashita.

As for me, [on] Sunday, [with] a friend, [by] bus, I went [to] the sea.

そして、レストラン【で】魚【を】食べました。

Soshite, resutoran [de] sakana [o] tabemashita.

And then, [at] a restaurant, I ate fish [object].

Teacher's Advice

General Advice

Don't try to memorize particles by their English translations (like 'de = by'). Instead, memorize the FUNCTION. For example, 'de = the tool I use' or 'de = the place I do an action'. Also, always memorize particles WITH the verbs they stick to (e.g., 'X ni noru' for riding, never 'X o noru').

JLPT Exam Patterns

•The first 3-5 questions of the N5 grammar section are ALWAYS particle fill-in-the-blanks.
•Testing exceptions: 会う (to meet) takes に, not を! (友達に会う)
•Testing exceptions: 乗る (to ride) takes に, not を! (電車に乗る)

Test your Particle Knowledge

Take our JLPT N5 Particle Quiz to see if you can choose the correct particle in real sentences.

Start Quiz →