Japanese Particles Cheat Sheet: Learn the Essential Particles for JLPT N5 and N4 (Free Download)

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.

Noun+

topic

emphasis; contrast

at least

①わたしはケンです。

I’m Ken.

Noun+

time

place

target

①わたしはあさ6じにおきます。

I get up at six in the morning.

Noun+

object

place

①わたしはまいあさ、しんぶんをよみます。

I read the newspaper every morning.

Noun+

②③Polite form +

object (like, be good
at…)

but

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?

Noun+

by(means)

at(place)

in(time)

make of

because of

④にほんのいえはきでつくられます。

Japanese houses are made from wood.

Noun+

with

and

(say or write or think)
that

①わたしはともだちとあそびます。

I will play with my friends.

Noun+

also

all

as much as

totality

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

Noun+から

Polite form, Plain form +から

from

because

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
form)+
のに

-adjective(plain form)+のに

-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

-adjective+ので

-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.  

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