Confused about Japanese Particles? Want to know the difference between wa and ga? Check out this easy to use reference guide.
Japanese particles are an indispensable key in understanding Japanese sentences. Learn changing how a particle is used can change the entire meaning of a sentence. In this blog, we sort out 13 common Japanese particles for the JLPT N5-N4 level. This cheat sheet covers 17 common particles, the usages, meaning and example sentences.
You can get the free download of our learning cheat sheet below.
は |
Noun+は |
①topic ②emphasis; contrast ③at least |
①わたしはケンです。 I’m Ken. |
に |
Noun+に |
①time ②place ③target |
①わたしはあさ6じにおきます。 I get up at six in the morning. |
を |
Noun+を |
①object ②place |
①わたしはまいあさ、しんぶんをよみます。 I read the newspaper every morning. |
が |
①Noun+が ②③Polite form +が |
①object (like, be good ②but ③~but~(preface) |
③おなかがいたいんですが、かえってもいいですか。 My stomach hurts. May I go home? |
で |
Noun+で |
①by~(means) ②at~(place) ③in~(time) ④make of ⑤because of |
④にほんのいえはきでつくられます。 Japanese houses are made from wood. |
と |
Noun+と |
①with ②and ③(say or write or think) |
①わたしはともだちとあそびます。 I will play with my friends. |
も |
Noun+も |
①also ②all ③as much as ④totality |
②このスーパーのしょうひんはどれもやすいです。 Anything at this supermarket is cheap. |
から |
①Noun+から ②Polite form, Plain form +から |
①from ②because |
②きょうははこどものたんじょうびですからはやくかえります。 It’s my kid’s birthday today so I will be going home early. |
まで |
Noun+まで |
Up to; until |
わたしは5じまではたらきます。 I work until 5 PM. |
しか |
Noun+しか |
only (used with negatives) |
わたしはひらがなしかかけません。 I can only write Hiragana. |
だけ |
Noun+だけ |
only |
かいしゃにがいこくじんがひとりだけいます。 There is only one foreign employee at the company. |
のに |
Verb(plain い-adjective(plain form)+のに な-adjective(~な)+のに Noun+のに |
although; even though |
しごとはいそがしいのに、きゅうりょうはやすいです。 Despite work being so busy, the salary is low. |
ので |
Verb(plain form)+ので い-adjective+ので な-adjective(~な)+ので Noun+ので |
Because; since |
きょうはひまなので、かいものにいきます。 I am free today, so I’m going shopping. |
If you want to learn grammar, check out our 30 must-know JLPT N5 grammar points.