JAPANESE PARTICLES CHEAT SHEET
Indicate subjects by
coming after them
Meanings: is, am, are
*One thing to know about is that its not
pronounced ha but pronounced wa
emphasizes what comes after it
emphasizes what comes before it
: I am Koichi
: I am Koichi
* The first example would be used when youre
introducing yourself to someone, the second one
would be more like one of those movies where one
person has the gun pointed at two identical
targets, where they are saying I am Koichi and
No, Im Koichi! The important (emphasized)
part is the I portion, so youd use .
Examples:
The Direct Object
I am a student (where is am in this sentence)
That student is stupid
You are interesting
What is it that you want to eat?
I like sushi / it is sushi that I like
Emphasizing the
Destination
How its used: This is a lot like the particle ni
but emphasizes the destination. Its more like
heading towards than anything else (see
examples below)
Examples:
Heading towards Japan
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The Possessive Also / Too
Meanings: Apostrophe S & of Meanings: also and too - it can also
emphasize any
*Makes something possessive, like saying my
monkey, Jennys friend, or Bobby of Sony (i.e. Examples:
Sonys Bobby).
Examples: Me too / Me also
My name is is Koichi Bobby also will go to Ikea
Its Bobbys dog I didnt eat anything
Movement and Time
How its used: All it does is shows what the direct How its used: Used to show what an action is
object is. Used when youre directly doing directed to, and also shows destinations,
something (the verb) to something (the object). directions, places, and time. Remember, when you
move you use your knees (ni)
Examples:
Examples:
(object) (particle) (verb)
Eat sushi
I will go to Japan
Xbox
I will buy an X-Box
At 3 oclock I will eat sushi
*Not used when you arent directly involved or
responsible (i.e. the radio is broken vs. I broke *Some Movement Verbs:
the radio - the second one uses )
Shows Context Other Particles
Meaning: By way of / at Question marker - used on the end of a
sentence to make a question, like a question mark!
Can show how and where an action takes place.
Used to list nouns when you are listing
Examples: everything and you know everything on the list
Used to list nouns when you arent listing
I went by Car everything, and maybe there are other things not
included.
Sentence ender that gives an isnt it feeling
I ate at the restaurant used to receive agreement for what youre saying.
Sentence ender that gives a you know
feeling, often when relaying new information.