Japanese particles

No Particle Meaning / usage

1 は (wa) Indicantes the topic of a sentence

2 か (ka) At the end of a sentence indicating a question

3 が (ga) Indicates the subject of a sentence

4 に (ni) Indicates a location

5 の (no) Indicates possession

6 は (wa) Indicates a contrast between 2 items

7 に (ni) Indicates time or frequency

8 へ (e) Indicates direction

9 を (wo/o) Indicates the direct object of a verb

10 と (to) Used to connect and list up multiple items

11 や (ya) Used to connect and partially list up multiple

items

12 など (nado) Used with や (ya) to partially list up multiple

items

13 も (mo) means “too”, “either”, “also”

14 も (mo) both…and…, neither…nor…

15 に (ni) Indicates the indirect object of a verb

16 に (ni) Indicates the surface of a object where some

action takes place

17 で (de) Indicates the location of an action

18 と (to) Together with

19 の (no) Indicates an apposition

20 から (kara) Indicates a starting point in time or place

21 より (yori) Indicates a starting point in time or place but

more formal than kara (20)

22 まで (made) Indicates a limit on time, space or quantity

23 くらい (kurai) Indicates an approximate amount

24 ほど (hodo) Indicates an approximate amount

25 ばかり(bakari) Indicates an approximate amount

26 で (de) Indicates a means or material

27 か (ka) Indicates a choice or alternative

28 を (wo/o) Indicates a point of departure

29 を (wo/o) Indicates a route of a movement/motion

30 に (ni) Indicates a point of arrival

31 に (ni) Indicates an entering motion

32 に (ni) Used together with a verb to express a purpose

33 と (to) Used when quoting someone

34 と いう (to iu) Indicates the name of something

35 とか (toka) “something like”

36 で (de) Indicates a limit or scope

37 と (to) Indicates a comparison

38 より (yori) Indicates a comparison

39 より (yori) Indicates superlative

40 くらい (kurai) Indicates a comparison

41 ほど (hodo) Indicates a comparison in a negative sentence

42 か (ka) someone, something

43 も (mo) “nothing”, nobody”, nowhere” if used with an

interrogative word

44 に (ni) Used with a verb to indicate a change or choice

45 をする (wo/o Expresses an occupation or position

suru)

46 でも (demo) Indicates emphasis

47 でも (demo) Together with an interrogative word it means

“anything”, “anyone”, any time”

48 で (de) Indicates a cause or a reason

49 から (kara) Indicates a source such as a giver, a cause or

material

50 に (ni) Indicates a person who gives something or who

provides a service

51 は (wa) + が (ga) Indicates the relation between an object /

subjects and a verb or adjective

52 が (ga) Connects two sentences with the meaning

“but…”

53 を (wo/o) Used with an verb expressing emotions, it

indicates the cause of this emotion

54 で (de) Indicates a state / condition of something

55 で (de) Limits numbers

56 だけ (dake) Indicates a limit on things or amounts

57 だけ (dake) Indicates a limit on an action or state

58 で (de) Indicates the time of completion or expiration of
something

59 でも (demo) Following a noun, means “or something like

this”

60 も (mo) Emphasizes in a positive or negative way

61 でも (demo) Indicates two or more items as an example of a

larger list

62 ばかり (bakari) Indicates that an item, state or action is a single

one

63 ばかり (bakari) Indicates an action was just completed

64 ところ (tokoro) Indicates that an action takes place, just took

place or is about to take place

65 が (ga) Indicates the subject of subordinate clause

when it is different from the subject of the main
clause

66 から (kara) conjunction meaning “after” or “since”

67 ながら (nagara) Indicates that an action is happening

simultaneously

68 が (ga) Indicates the subject of a relative clause

69 の (no) Indicates the subject of a relative clause

70 から (kara) Used as a conjunction and indicates a cause or

reason

71 ので (node) Indicates a strong reason

72 の (no) Indicates a modified pronoun

73 の (no) Used to nominalize verbs & sentences

74 なら (nara) Used as a conjunction and indicates a

supposition or condition
75 なら (nara) Indicates a topics and is used as an alternative
to wa (No.1)

76 と (to) Indicates a condition that results in an inevitable

outcome

77 ば (ba) Used as a conjunction to express a probable

results

78 ばいい (ba) “all you have to do…”

79 ば (ba) Used to enumerate two or more actions or

states

80 たら (tara) Used as a conjunction, indicates a supposition

or condition

81 たら (tara) Used as a conjunction to indicate that one

action takes place before the action described in
the main sentence

82 ところ (tokoro) Used as a conjunction to indicate a condition

that brings about a discovery

83 ても (temo) a conjunction meaning “even if”

84 ても (temo) Used with a set of contrasting verbs and

adjectives

85 ても (temo) Together with an interrogative word it means

“no matter what/where/who”

86 ては (tewa) Indicates a condition which will bring a negative

conclusion

87 のみ (nomi) Indicates a limit (similar to だけ dake)

88 まで (made) “even”, used to emphasize

89 さえ (sae) “even”, used to emphasize

90 さえ (sae) “if only” or “as long as”

91 のに (noni) “although”, “in spite of the fact that”

92 ながら (nagara) “although”, “though”, “but”

93 とか (toka) Indicates that a list of two ore more things or

actions is not exhaustive

94 たり (tari) List of two or more actions in no particular

sequence

95 たり (tari) Indicates actions or states that alternate

96 のに (noni) Indicates a purpose or function

97 のです (no desu) Asks for an explanation or reason

98 きり (kiri) Indicates a limit to an amount

99 きり (kiri) Indicates the last time a certain incident

occured

100 とも (tomo) Used with numbers and counters to mean

“both” or “all”

101 ながら (nagara) Used with numbers and counters to mean

“both” or “all”

102 しか (shika) Used with a negative verb to indicate limits on

conditions or quantities meaning “only”

103 しかない (shika used with a verb meaning “to have no choice
nai) but to”

104 し (shi) Used as a conjunction, indicating two or more

actions or states

105 し (shi) Used as a conjunction indicating a reason

106 とも (tomo) Indicates inclusion

107 に (ni) Indicates the one acting or the one acted upon

108 か (ka) Indicates uncertainty about something

109 か (ka) Indicates uncertainty about a state or reason

110 だの (dano) Indicates two or more items or actions of a

longer list (similar to toka とか)

111 だの (dano) Indicates a pair of opposite actions or states

112 など (nado) “something to the effect”

113 やら (yara) Indicates two or more items of a longer list

114 やら (yara) Indicates uncertainty

115 ても (temo) Indicates an approximate limit with the meaning

of “at the most”

116 とも (tomo) Indicates an approximate maximum or

minimum

117 は (wa) Indicates that a number is the higher or lowest

limit

118 と (to) Emphasizes a number in a negative sentence

119 など (nado) Indicates examples

120 くらい (kurai) Expresses an extent of an action or condition

similar to ぐらい gurai

121 ほど (hodo) Indicates the extend of an action or condition

122 ほど (hodo) “the more… the more…”

123 だけ (dake) “as… as…”

124 だけ (dake) “the more… the more…”

125 と (to) “about to do something”, “trying to do

something”

126 と (to) “even if…”, “whether… or not”

127 なり (nari) “either…”, “whether…or”

128 なり (nari) “anything”, “anyone”, “any time”

129 こそ (koso) Emphasizes the word preceding it

130 こそ (koso) Emphasizes a reason or a cause

131 ては (tewa) Expresses repetition of an action

132 に (ni) Joins two or more nouns to indicate a list of

items

133 に (ni) Connects two or more items to indicate a

matching or a contrast

134 にしては (ni shite Indicates a generally agreed upon standard

wa)

135 にとって (ni Indicates an effect or value of a person or thing

totte)

136 について (ni “about”, “concerning” something or someone

tsuite)

137 とも…とも “can’t say whether… or…”

(tomo… tomo)

138 が (ga) “even if”, “whether… or not”

139 は (wa) Emphasizes contrasting elements

140 として (toshite) Indicates status, capacity or function

141 として (toshite) Provides emphasis in a negative sentence

142 ばかりでなく “not only… but also”

(bakari de naku)

143 だけ (dake) used to express “not only…but also”

144 のみ (nomi) used to express “not only…but also”

145 なり (nari) “as soon as”

146 がはやいか (ga “as soon as”
hayai ka)

147 やいなや (ya ina “as soon as”

ya)

148 かないうちに (ka “no sooner had”, “hardly had”

nai uchi ni)

149 ばかり (bakari) Indicates the only action left to do

150 ばかりに (bakari Emphasizes a reason or cause

ni)

151 すら (sura) Emphasizes in the meaning of “even”

152 など (nado) Expresses a humble attitude towards an item

153 とも (tomo) “no matter what”, “even if”

154 ともあろうひと To express that someone did something not to

(tomo aroo hito) be expected

155 どころか (dokoro “far from”, “not to mention”

ka)

156 だけに (dake ni) Indicates a cause or reason

157 までもない “there is no need to…”

(made mo nai)

158 ものの (mono no) “but” or “although”

159 ところで (tokoro “even if”

de)

160 けれども Connects 2 sentences meaning “but” or

(keredomo) “although”

161 けれども Indicates a preliminary remark

(keredomo)

162 が (ga) Used to soften a statement or refusal

163 けれども Indicates a desire
(keredomo)

164 ね (ne) At the end of a sentence to confirm a statement

165 ね (ne) At the end of a sentence to soften a request or

suggestion

166 ね (ne) At the end of a sentence to indicate a reason or

cause

167 ねえ (nee) At the end of a sentence to indicate emotion

168 よ (yo) At the end of a sentence to state a strong

conviction

169 よ (yo) At the end of a sentence to articulate a request

or suggestion

170 かしら (kashira) At the end of a sentence to express uncertainty,

a request or a question and mainly used by
women

171 かな (kana) At the end of a sentence to express uncertainty,

a request or a question and mainly used by men

172 な (na) At the end of a sentence and used by men to

confirm a statement

173 な (na) At the end of a sentence to express a

prohibition, used by men

174 なあ (naa) At the end of a sentence to express emotion,

used by men

175 なあ (naa) At the end of a sentence to express a desire

176 の (no) At the end of a sentence to express a question

or soften a command, used by women

177 わ (wa) At the end of a sentence to soften a statement,

used by women
178 さ (sa) At the end of a sentence to indicate slight
emphasis, used by men

179 こと (koto) At the end of a sentence to indicate emotion,

used by women

180 こと (koto) At the end of a sentence to express a suggestion

or invitation, used by women

181 もの (mono) At the end of a sentence to express a reason or

excuse

182 とも (tomo) At the end of a sentence to express an assertion

183 ものか (monoka) At the end of a sentence to express a negative

determination, used by men

184 や (ya) At the end of a sentence to soften a statement,

request or suggestion, used by men

185 たら (tara) At the end of a sentence to indicate a

suggestion or proposal

186 やら (yara) At the end of a sentence to indicate a rhetorical

question with a negative implication

187 ぜ (ze) At the end of a sentence to add for to sentence,

used by men

188 ぞ (zo) At the end of a sentence to add force to a

sentence or to express a question to oneself

How to use Japanese Particles?

は (wa)

は (wa) follows the topic the speaker wants to talk about. Therefore, wa（は）is often called topic
marking particle.

The “topic” is often the grammatical subject, but can be anything (including the grammatical object, and
sometimes the verb), and it may also follow some other particles.
Formation

[ A ] wa [ B ] desu.
= [ A ] is [ B ].

Example

昨日は雨だった。
Kinō wa ame datta.
It was rainy yesterday

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を (o)

を (o) marks the grammatical object of a sentence. It follows nouns and noun phrases.
Formation

Noun + o (を) + verb

Example

私はチョコを食べます。
Watashi wa choko o tabemasu.
I eat chocolate.

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も (mo)

も (mo) functions as “also” or “too” in English. It is used to indicate that something that has previously
been stated also holds true for the item currently under discussion. It replaces ga, wa or o when used.
Formation

[Object1] は [property1/action1] です
[Object2] も [property1/action1] です.

Example

A: 私はフランス人です。
Watashi wa furansujin desu.
I am French.
B: 私もフランス人です。
Watashi mo furansujin desu.
I am also French.
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に (ni)

に (ni) indicates a place toward where someone or something moves. It is preceded by the name of the
place and followed by a verb which indicates a moving action such as iku (行く) “to go.”

It is also used with giving/receiving verbs and can then mean “from”.
In the case of passive verbs, it marks the grammatical agent, making it the same as “by” in English. (i.e.
“my wallet was stolen by my brother.” ).

に is also used to indicate the location of existence when combined with the verbs いる or ある, making
it the Japanese version of “at” (in some instances).
Formation

place + ni (に)

Example

学校に行きます。
Gakkō ni ikimasu.
I go to school.

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へ (e)

へ (e) is basically the same as に, except it emphasizes direction over arrival.

The main difference is usage. へ is never used as “from”, “by”, “at”.

In addition, the particle の can follow the へ particle directly, whereas it cannot follow に.
Formation

location/direction + e(へ)

Example

彼へ 手紙を送りました。
Kare e tegami o okurimasita.
I sent him a letter.

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で (de)

で (de) is used to indicate location of an action. The performer of the action (the subject) is followed by
either of the particles wa or ga, and the place is followed by de.
However it can’t be used with with the verbs いる or ある.

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Formation

location + de (で)

Example

私は家で 本を読みます。
Watashi wa ie de hon o yomimasu.
I read books at home.

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が (ga)

が (ga) marks the grammatical subject of a sentence when it is first introduced to a conversation. It can
also be used to join sentences, like the word “but”, but that が is technically a different word. The
particle が can also be used to emphasize the subject or distinguish it from others.
While は is used when a question word (who, where, etc) comes after the topic in the sentence (レスト
ランはどこですか。), we use the particle が when the question word is the subject or part of it.
Example

だれ が 来ますか。
Dare ga kimasu ka.
Who will come?

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から (kara)

から (kara) indicates the source of an object or action.

This starting position may be either a point in space (in which case it is translated as “from”), or a point
in time (in which case it is translated as “since” or “after”).

Formation

Noun + kara (から)

Example
学校から 家までどれくらいかかりますか。
Gakkō kara ie made dorekurai kakarimasu ka?
How long does it take you to get home from school?

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まで (made)

まで (made) indicates that an action/effect extends or reaches a specified limit or a point in time or
space.

It is therefore equivalent to the English expression “until.”

Formation

Noun + made (まで)

Example

彼女と７時学校まで ドライブしました。
Kanojo to shichi-ji gakkō madedoraibu shimashita.
I went driving around with my girlfriend until 7 o’clock.

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と (to)

と (to) is used to join nouns together into an exhaustive list that functions as a single noun: ”with”,
“and”.

It’s also the particle used to indicate a direct quote (from someone’s mind or speech), functioning like
quotation marks in English.
Formation

Noun + to (と) + Noun

Example

肉と 魚が好きです。
Niku to sakana ga suki desu.
I like meat and fish.

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や (ya)

や (ya) is used in the same way as the first sense of と, but the list is not exhaustive. It means “such
things as A, B, and C”.

Formation
AやB
AやBや

Example

赤や 黄色の花が咲いていた。
Aka ya kīro no hana ga saiteita.
There were red, yellow and other color flowers blooming.

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の (no)

の (no) indicates possession (functioning like the English “apostrophe-S”).

In the structure A no B, B belongs to A, however, many nouns act like adjectives when followed by no.
It directly follows nouns and noun phrases.
Formation

Object1 + の + Object2

Example

あなた の 名前はなんですか。
Anata no namae wa nan desuka?
What’s your name?

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ね (ne)
ね (ne) is used at the end of sentences, basically in the same way as an English tag question.

If said with rising intonation, it indicates a request for confirmation from the listener (i.e. “It’s a beautiful
day, isn’t it?” ), whereas if said with falling intonation, it’s used as rhetorical device (i.e. “It’s a beautiful
day, isn’t it.” )
Formation

End of the sentence + ne (ね)

Example

これは美味しいです ね 。
Kore wa oishii desu ne .
This is delicious, isn’t it?

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よ (yo)

よ (yo) is used by the speaker to express a strong conviction about something or to emphatically declare
something.
Formation

End of the sentence + yo (よ)

Example

明日私は行く よ 。
Ashita Watashi wa iku yo .
I’ll go tomorrow!