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N5助詞

Core Particles

は・が・を・に・で・へ・と・も at a glance — what each one marks.

は — topic

"As for X…" Marks what the sentence is about — usually something already known or being contrasted.

が — subject / new info

Introduces something new, answers "which one?", marks a question-word subject, and marks the thing after 好き・上手・ある・いる.

を — direct object

The thing directly acted on by the verb.

に — point

Destination, a specific clock/calendar time, or where something exists (いる/ある).

で — place of action / means

Where an action happens, or the tool/method used.

へ — direction

Almost the same as destination に, but softer — about the direction, not the exact endpoint.

と/も — and, with / also

と links nouns ("and") or marks a companion ("with"). も replaces は or が to mean "too / also".

Example usage

  • 母(はは)は 台所(だいどころ)で 料理(りょうり)を 作(つく)っています。

    My mother is cooking in the kitchen.

  • 電車(でんしゃ)が 来(き)ました。

    The train has come.

    New event just noticed → が

  • 土曜日(どようび)に 姉(あね)と 買(か)い物(もの)に 行(い)きます。

    I'm going shopping with my older sister on Saturday.

  • この 電車(でんしゃ)は 大阪(おおさか)へ 行(い)きます。

    This train is bound for Osaka.

  • 兄(あに)も サッカーが 好(す)きです。

    My older brother likes soccer too.

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