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CONTENTS
2 Vocabulary
2 Sample Sentences
2 Grammar
# 1
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VOCABULARY
topic marking
は は wa particle particle
SAMPLE SENTENCES
今日はクリスマスです。
Kyō wa Kurisumasu desu.
Today is Christmas.
GRAMMAR
Particles are a very important part of the Japanese language. The particles used in a
sentence give us critical information about the meaning. So if the wrong particles are
used, the whole meaning of the sentence could change. That's why it's very important to
know how to use the different particles in Japanese.
1.Topic marke r
1. 出身はどこですか。
Shusshin wa doko desu ka.
“Where are you from?” (Lit. “As for your hometown, where is it?”)
2. 今日は雨です。
Ky ō wa ame desu.
“It's rainy today.” (Lit. "As for today, it's rainy.")
3. 沖縄は暑い。
Okinawa wa atsui.
“It’s hot in Okinawa.” (Lit. "As for Okinawa, it's hot.”)
We can also use this particle to show contrast between two items or ideas. When we use
it in this way, we mark the two items being contrasted with wa .
For example, if we want to contrast the object of a sentence, we re place t he part icle を
( o ) or が ( ga ) wit h は ( wa ).
1. 魚を食べます。
Sakana o tabemasu.
The object, which in this case is what I eat, is 魚 (sakana ). So 魚 (sakana ) is marked
by the particle を (o).
1. 肉を食べません。
Niku o tabemasen.
So now to contrast these two sentences, we replace the particle を (o) with は (wa ):
1. 魚は食べます。でも、肉は食べません。
Sakana wa tabemasu. Demo, niku wa tabemasen.
By using は (wa ) in this sentence, we are putting a lot of contrast between the
two items. でも (demo) means “but.” Altogether it means "I eat fish, but I don’t
eat meat."
1. 時間はあります。でも、お金はありません。
Jikan wa arimasu. Demo, o-kane wa arimasen.
“I have time, but I don’t have money.”
2. 犬は好きです。でも、猫は嫌いです。
Inu wa suki desu. Demo, neko wa kirai desu.
“I like dogs, but I don’t like cats."