Particles are short words that show how a noun fits into a sentence. At N5, learn their most common job first; do not try to translate every particle with one English word.
The five useful starting points
| Particle | Common beginner job | Example |
|---|---|---|
| は (read wa here) | topic | わたしは学生です。 (As for me, I am a student.) |
| が | subject or newly identified thing | ねこがいます。 (There is a cat.) |
| を (read o here) | direct object | 水を飲みます。 (I drink water.) |
| に | time, destination, or existence location | 7時に起きます。 (I wake at 7.) |
| で | place of an action or means | 図書館で読みます。 (I read at the library.) |
These are patterns, not permanent one-to-one translations. For example, に also appears in 学校に行きます (go to school), while で appears in バスで行きます (go by bus).
A five-minute substitution drill
Start with 私は本を読みます (I read a book). Change one part at a time:
- Replace the topic: 田中さんは本を読みます。
- Replace the object: 田中さんは新聞を読みます。
- Add the place: 図書館で新聞を読みます。
- Add the time: 7時に図書館で新聞を読みます。
Say each sentence, write it once, then cover the English gloss and rebuild it from the Japanese pieces. This connects a particle to a relationship instead of a memorized translation.
Common mistakes
- Use を for the thing you read, eat, or drink: ご飯を食べます。
- Use で for the place where an action happens: 学校で勉強します。
- Use に for a clock time: 6時に寝ます。
- は marks the topic; が often introduces or identifies the subject. Learn both in complete sentences.
A new NihongoHub app is coming. Join the launch waitlist to hear when it is ready. Related reading: N5 study plan, mind map, quizzes, blog, বাংলা.
Quick answers
Fill the blanks: わたし___日本語___勉強します。 / 8時___学校___行きます。
Answers: わたしは日本語を勉強します。 / 8時に学校に行きます。
Helpful answers for your next step
Understand one idea, try an example, and keep going at your own pace.
What do は and が mean in Japanese?
は marks the topic—the thing being discussed—and can create a contrast. が marks the grammatical subject and often identifies or highlights who or what has a property or does an action. Compare 私は学生です (as for me, I am a student) with だれが学生ですか。私が学生です (who is the student? I am). The difference depends on context, so learn each particle in sentences rather than as one fixed English word.
References: Irodori: What is Irodori? · Marugoto: Japanese Language and Culture · NHK WORLD-JAPAN Easy Japanese
When do I use を, に, and で in Japanese?
Use を for the direct object of an action: 水を飲みます (I drink water). Use に for destinations, recipients, and many time expressions: 学校に行きます (I go to school) and 7時に起きます (I wake up at seven). Use で for the place where an action happens or the tool used: 図書館で勉強します (I study at the library). These particles have other uses, so let the verb and sentence context guide you.
References: Irodori: What is Irodori? · Marugoto: Japanese Language and Culture · NHK WORLD-JAPAN Easy Japanese
Edited by the NihongoHub Team · 14 September 2026 · Sources & corrections