Particles # 1

Japanese particles are similar to the English 'to,' 'of' 'from.' etc. But when you are learning Japanese it is hard to know which particle to use and where. Again, there are many different particles in Japanese, but I will only cover a few of those that I know and will not go into too much detail.....But where do I start? I guess it is best to start with the particle WA は As you may notice the particle for wa is written with the Hiragana for ha and not actually わ 'wa' It is just one of those strange Japanese things, which I cannot explain.

Wa は has several usages but it's basic function is to set off a topic. Examples being:

明日は日曜日です。Ashita wa nichi-youbi desu. As for tomorrow, it's Sunday (Tomorrow is Sunday)

わたしはステイブです。Watshi wa steiibu desu. As for me, I am Steve (I am Steve / my name is Steve)

Wa can also be used in the following construction Noun + wa Noun + ga. Wa indicates a topic, which is the first noun, about which an aspect or quality (the second noun) is explained. e.g.:

象は鼻がながいです。Zou wa hana ga nagai desu. The Elephant, its nose is long. (Elephants have long noses / The elephant has a long nose)

Ga が　Normally indicates the subject of the sentence. Examples are:

あそこにわたしの車がありますか。Asoko ni watashi no kuruma ga arimasu ka. Is my car over there?

あそこに銀行があります。Asoko ni ginkou ga arimaus. There's a bank over there.

雪が降っている。Yuki ga futte iru. It is snowing.　

Ka か is the particle used as a question marker and comes at the end of a sentence. e.g.:

お元気ですか。O-genki desu ka. Are you well?

これはだれの傘ですか。Kore wa dare no kasa ka. Whose umbrella is this?

映画を見にいきませんか。Eiga o mi ni ikimasen ka. How about going to see a film? (movie?)

No の　is used between two nouns to indicate that the first possesses or is modifying the second. It can also indicate position or location.

これは関口さんの傘です。kore wa Sekiguchi-san no kasa desu. This is Mr. Sekiguchi's umbrella.

それが田中さんの車です。Kore ga Yamada-san no kuruma desu. That is Mr Tanaka's car.

山田さんは英語の先生です。Yamada-san wa Eigo no sensei desu. Mrs Yamada is a teacher of English.

机の上，いすの下，学校の前，この建物の後ろ。Tsukue no ue, isu no shita, gakkou no mae, kono tatemono no ushiro. On top of the desk, under the chair, in front of the school, behind this building.

O を indicates the object of an action, indicates the direct object of a passive verb and is also used with verbs indicating wishes or desires.

関口さんは手紙を書いている。Sekiguchi-san wa tegami o kaite iru. Mr. Sekiguchi is writing a letter.

彼女は犬に手を噛まれた。Kanojo wa inu ni te o kamareta. She had her hand bitten by a dog.

コーヒーを飲みたいんです。Koohii o nomitai n desu. I want to drink coffee.

Ni に　in it's basic form indicates 'in, at, on and to.' Example sentences are:

新聞は机の上にあります。Shinbun wa tsukue no ue ni arimasu. The newspaper is on the desk.

田中さんは東京に住んでいます。Tanaka-san wa Toukyou ni sunde imasu. Mr. Tanaka lives in Tokyo.

月曜日に大阪へ行きます。Getsuyoubi ni Oosaka e ikimasu. I'm going to Osaka on Monday.

日本に行きたい。Nihon ni ikitai. I want to go to Japan.

Yo よ　Urges a course of action, indicates a request or a command, a statement of certainty and even a scolding or contempt.

あの展覧会へ行ってみましょうよ。Ano tenran-kai e itte mimsahou yo. (Come on) let's go to that exhibition.

私の家にも来て下さいよ。Watashi no ie ni mo kite kudasai yo. Come to my house, too.

今日は金曜日ですよ。Kyou wa kinyoubi desu yo. Today is Friday, (You know)

だめですよ。Dame desu yo. Stop it.

E へ　This indicates a direction or a goal, or a destination to which one is moving towards or as arrived at. It also indicates the recipient of an action.

いつ京都へ行きますか。Itsu Kyouto e ikimasu ka. When are you going to Kyoto?

この電車は六時に東京駅へ到着しました。Kono densha wa rokuji ni Toukyou eki e touchaku shimashita. This train arrived at Tokyo station at six o'clock.

夕方関口さんへ電話をかけたが，いなかった。Yuugata Sekiguchi-san e denwa o kaketa ga, inakatta. I telephoned Mr. Sekiguchi this evening, but he was not there.

関口さんへの電話があったのは何時でしたか。Sekiguchi-san e no denwa ga atte no wa nan-ji desu ka. What time did that phone call come from Mr Sekiguchi?

De で　Indicates the location of an action, a means or implement 'by, with', materials used and the reason for something. e.g.:

私は，図書館で本を読んでいます。Watashi wa, tosho-kan de hon wo yonde imasu. I am reading a book in the library.

私は日本へ飛行機できました。Watashi wa Nihon e hikouki de kimashita. I came to Japan by aeroplane.

このケーキは，卵と砂糖で作ります。Kono keeki wa, tomago to satou de tsukurimasu. This cake is made of (with) eggs and sugar.

台風で電車が止まった。Taifuu de densha ga tomatta. The train stopped on account of the typhoon.

To と As a few meanings but here we will just concentrate on one and that is the one that follows nouns and indicates such meanings as 'and' and 'with and sets of names.

田中さんと山田さんは日本人です。Tanaka-san to Yamada-san wa Nihon-jin desu. Mr. Tanaka and Mrs Yamada are Japanese.

りんごとみかんとどちらが好きですか。Ringo to mikan to dochira ga suki desu ka? Which do you like more, apples or mandarin oranges?

明日この問題について，先生と話すつもりです。Ashita kono mondai ni tsuite, sensei to hanasu tsumori desu. Tomorrow I intend to discuss this problem with my teacher (doctor, lawyer, etc).

Ne ね Sometimes pronounced Nee ねえ indicates emotion or feelings of admiration, agreement with another person, softens a request and indicates a variance of opinion.

きれいな花ねえ。Kirei na hana nee. What a pretty flower!

本当にそうですね。Hontou ni sou desu ne. That is so true.

必ず手紙を下さいね。Kanarazu tegami o kudasai ne. Be sure to write me a letter.

そうですかね。Sou desu ka ne. You think so?

Made まで Indicates a time limit or a place to which an action extends (often paired with 'kara から' ) Also when at the end of a sentence it can mean something along the lines of "That is all"

このデパートは，土曜日と日曜日は八時までです。Kono depaato wa, doyoubi to nichiyoubi wa hachi-ji made desu. This department store is open until eight o'clock on Saturdays and Sundays.

ここから京都まで何時間かかりますか。Koko kara Kyouto made nan-jikan kakarimasu ka. How long does it take to get from here to Kyoto.

今日はここまで。Kyou wa koko made. That is all for today.

Kara から　Indicates the time or place at which something begins. When used trailingly at the end of a sentence it indicates a warning to the listener. e.g.:

銀行は九時から開いています。Ginkou wa ku-ji kara aite imasu. The banks open from nine o'clock.

見学はここから出発します。Kengaku ha koko kara shuppatsu shimasu. The Tour (of a museum, town, etc.) starts from here.

新聞をすみからすみまで読んだ。Shinbun o sumi kara sumi made yonda. I read the newspaper from beginning to end.

勉強しないと試験に合格できないから...... Benkyou shinai to shiken ni goukaku dekini kara...... If you don't study, you won't be able to pass the exam (so you better study).