Reference
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助詞（じょし）
Particles
Postpositions that mark grammatical roles. The backbone of Japanese grammar — master these and sentence structure falls into place.
Core particles
| Particle | Reading | Role | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| は | wa | topic marker | 私は学生です |
| が | ga | subject / new info | 猫がいます |
| を | o | direct object | ご飯を食べる |
| に | ni | time / target / recipient | 七時に起きる |
| で | de | place of action / means | 電車で行く |
| と | to | and (full list) / with | 友達と行く |
| や | ya | and (partial list) | りんごやみかん |
| も | mo | also / too | 私も学生です |
| の | no | possession / modifier | 私の本 |
| へ | e | direction / destination | 日本へ行く |
| か | ka | question marker | 学生ですか |
Sentence-final & nuance
| Particle | Reading | Role |
|---|---|---|
| ね | ne | seeking agreement ("..., right?") |
| よ | yo | asserting new info ("..., you know") |
| よね | yone | "..., right?" (softer) |
| な | na | casual prohibition / assertion |
Extent / limit / reason
| Particle | Reading | Role | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| から | kara | from / because | 九時から |
| まで | made | until / as far as | 五時まで |
| より | yori | than | 肉より魚 |
| だけ | dake | only | 一つだけ |
| しか〜ない | shika | only (with negative) | 一つしかない |
| など | nado | etc. / such as | りんごなど |
| でも | demo | but / even | 犬でもいい |
| が | ga | but (conjunction) | 行きたいが、忙しい |