jnlucero, 2016 07 12

The particle
The particle (written as ha, pronounced as /wa/ when used as a particle) is a particle connected to a word
to indicate that the word is the topic of the sentence. Literally, it means as for or about. For example,
Example 1

(About) this, (it) is a dog.

Kore wa inu da.

(This is the topic of the sentence)

One property of is that the part of the sentence after this particle is given emphasis; it is more important than
the topic of conversation. So given the sentence structure:
Illustration

something1 something2

the something1 is the topic of the sentence, whereas its property something2 is the one that matters.
Example 2

(About) you, (you) are 19 [lit. 10 and 9] years old.

Anata wa jyuukyuusai da.

(emphasizing 19 years old)

Hence, this emphasis implies that the topic, together with the particle , can be omitted from the sentence
without affecting the sense of the sentence. This is actually the property of Japanese as a contextual language:
certain parts of the sentence are not present, and are determined through the context of conversation.
Example 2

(About) you, (you) are 19 years old.

(you removed)

As of now, the part of the sentence after is a state-of-being. As with the previous articles, conjugations can
be made to express that something is not something, or was something, or was not something.
Example 3.1

(As for) me, (I) am not third year student.

Example 3.2

(As for) me, (I) was third year student.

Watashi wa sannenseidatta.

Example 3.3

(As for) me, (I) was not third year student.

Watashi wa sannenseijanakatta.

Watashi wa sannenseijanai.

Certain words can also intrude the sentence to give it additional information.
Example 4.1

Yesterday, (about) the cat, (it) was here.

Kinou neko wa kokodatta.

Example 4.2

(About) the cat, yesterday, (it) was here.

Neko wa kinou kokodatta.

However, when doing this, there are two things that you need to watch out. First, additional words should not
occur at the end of the sentence. The reason is that the last part of the sentence is reserved for verbs,
adjectives and state-of-beings and their conjugations.
Example 4.3

(About) the cat, (it) was here, yesterday.

Neko wa kokodatta kinou.

(wrong)

jnlucero, 2016 07 12
And second, when adding words, make sure that conjugations must match with the right words. Otherwise, it
will seem that the added word(s) is the one being conjugated.
Example 4.4

Neko wa koko kinou data.

(About) the cat, here, (it) was yesterday. (???)
(wrong)

In Example 4.4, it seems that , not , is the one being conjugated by , which makes no sense.
There is one thing that you need to know when using the particle, and it is about translating Japanese
phrases containing this particle in English. Consider the following sentence:
Example 5.1

(As for) Sakuragi, (he) is not well.

Sakuragi wa genkijanai.

(here, well refers to Sakuragi)

Since no context is given, the word will most likely refer to and hence in the English translation,
we use (he). This may lead some people to think that the topic is the subject of the sentence.
However, this is not always the case. Given a proper context, the above sentence can mean some other thing.
For instance,
Example 5.2

Tesuto wa genki, demo Sakuragi wa genkijanai.

(About) the test, (it) is well, but (as for) Sakuragi, (it) is not well.
(here, well refers to test)

Here, we have two topics: the first mentioned being and is considered the topic of the entire sentence,
and the second one being . The phrase gives context to the phrase
, and so most likely refers to , and not to . Thats why in the English translation,
we use (it) rather than (he). Otherwise, it may sound a bit odd to say that (about) the test, (it) is well, but (as
for) Sakuragi, (he) is not well. However, as just said previously, given additional context, this translation may
actually make sense.

Glossary of Terms
English
1. year student
2. years old
3. but, however
4. cat
5. dog
6. here
7. I, me, myself
8. nine
9. Sakuragi (name)
10. ten
11. test
12. this
13. three
14. well, healthy
15. yesterday
16.you

Romaji

-nensei
-sai
demo
neko
inu
koko
watashi
kyuu
sakuragi
jyuu
tesuto
kore
san
genki
kinou
anata