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Japanese Particles
Japanese Particles
Japanese particles, joshi (助詞) or tenioha (てにをは), are suffixes or short words inJapanese grammar that immediately follow the
modified noun, verb, adjective, or sentence. Their grammatical range can indicate various meanings and functions, such as speaker
affect and assertiveness.
Contents
Orthography and diction
Types of particles
List of particles
Index
Meaning and usage
Contrast
は wa and が ga
に ni and で de
に ni and へ e
が ga and を o
に ni and と to
や ya and と to
Historical particles
Differences from English prepositions
See also
Notes
References
Types of particles
There are eight types of particles, depending on what function they serve.
Note that some particles appear in two types. For example, "kara" is a case marker where it describes where something is from or
what happens after something; when it describes a cause it is aconjunctive particle.
List of particles
Index
bakari kedo nado shi
bakari ka kiri nanka/nante shika
bakashi kke nara sura
dake koro/goro ne to
da no koso ni to ka
de kurai/gurai ni te to mo
de mo made ni wa tte
dokoro ka made ni no tteba
e me no de wa
ga mo nomi ya
hodo mono/mon no ni yara
ka mono de o yo
kai mono ka/mon-ka sa/saa yori
ka na mono nara sae ze
kara mono o de sae zo
ka shira na and naa sae...ba/ra zutsu
bakashi
bakashi is another form of bakari.
ばかし (許し)
Etymology: Originally an alteration ofni te, later treated as a conjugation of the copulada. de can
de be used as "at" or "by means of".When serving as the continuative TE form of a subordinate
で clause, de substitutes for da/desu, carries the meaning "is, and so...", and takes on the tense of
the final verb of the sentence.
Koko de yasumitai.
Nouns: location I want to rest here.
ここで休みたい。
Nihon e yōkoso!
Nouns: direction Welcome to Japan!
日本へようこそ!
Functions as: identifier (identifies something unspecified), conjunction ("but"). Not to be confused
ga with the particle は.
が Ga (が or ヶ): Historical possessive used to connect nouns, most often seen in place names as ヶ
wa ga kuni
my/our [collective] country
我が国
Seki ga hara
Gateway Plains (site of the Battle of Sekigahara)
関が原
kai
kai is a gentler and masculine variant of the question markerka.
かい
Translates to: "I wonder"(Note: "Ka na" implies having mostly made up one's mind. Drawing out
ka na the "na" [ka naa] implies less certainty.)
かな Etymology: ka + na
Ka shira is like ka na, but is used more by women. See alsoGender differences in spoken
ka shira Japanese.
かしら Etymology: ka + shira, the irrealis form (i.e. negative form minus the -nai) of shiru "to know"
kke Translates to: "Similar toka but recalling for the information what you used to know
."
っけ Etymology: kke origins from the auxiliary verb of Old Japanese "keri".
kurai/gurai
Translates to: "about, approximately"
くらい・ぐらい
Kurai functions as a noun and may be followed byno.
(位)
Watashi ni mo kureta.
Nouns, phrases She gave some to me, too.
私にもくれた。
Verb + mono (物) : creates a noun from the verb (only applies to certain verbs)
mono/mon
もの/もん at the end of a sentence: casual feminine sentence ender likeの; もん is very feminine
もの・もん
and a bit cheeky.
Nomimono
Drink
飲み物
Tabemono
With verbs Food
食べ物
Ikimono
Living thing
生き物
mono de
Similar meaning as ので.
もので
mono
ka/mon-ka Put at the end of sentences to strongly decline. (More gently もの/もんですか)
:
ものか/もんか
Makeru-monka!
I will not surrender!
負けるもんか!
At the end of Dare ga anna tokoro-ni nido to
sentences iku-mondesuka!
誰があんなところに二度と行く Who would dare to go to a place like that for a second time!?
もんですか!
mono nara
ものなら (物な if (I/we/etc.) could
ら)
mono o
Used in phrases to show deplore feelings about not doing something they should do.
ものを
na and naa Na (な only): used with a class of adjectives which behave grammatically like nouns (seena-
adjectives). A more archaic form of thisna is naru (なる), which is used in the same way. If na
な(and なる)・ follows a dictionary form verb, it is a negative command ("Don't... ").However, if used with a verb
なあ・なぁ stem, it implies the opposite: "Do...".It is also used to modify general nouns before other particles
which cannot directly follow nouns (e.g.no de).
Etymology: The na used with nouns (including na-adjectives) is a form of thecopula. Na or naa at
the end of a sentence is a variant ofne, implying more reflection.
Suru-na
Don't do (something).
するな
Verb
Tabe-na
Do eat / Please eat.
食べな
hen na hito
Na-adjectives a strange person
変な人
Hen da na!
Phrases How strange!
変だな!
nado Translates to: "for example, things like, suchas, etc., and so on"
など (等) Functions as a noun and may be followed byno.
nanka/nante
Functions to: emphasize disgust, contempt, or otherwise negative feelings of the speaker
.
なんか・なんて
Nante is slightly more formal thannanka.
(何か・何て)
ni Translates to: "to, in, at, by";indirect object, direction; following a na-adjective, it creates an
に adverb
Gakkō ni iru.
Noun: location I'm at/in school.
学校にいる。
Gakkō ni iku.
Noun: direction I'm going to school.
学校に行く。
Functions as: possession indicator, noun link, topic marker (subordinate clauses), nominalization
When nominalizing whole phrases, the no may function either as emphasis or as a question,
no depending on tone of voice. Similar to English, a falling tone denotes a statement, and a rising
の tone a question. Its use to mark statements tends to be more typical of feminine speech. See also
Gender differences in spoken Japanese.
kuruma no Toyota
Noun: linking Toyota the car [company]
車のトヨタ
Translates to: "despite, although, even though; would have; in order to"
Etymology: no + ni
no ni
Nouns and na-adjectives must be followed by na before using this particle.
のに No ni has a stronger meaning thankedo when used to mean "although", and conveys regret when
used to mean "would have".
Benkyō shiteiru no ni, eigo ga
Adjectives, hanasenai.
verbs: 勉強しているのに、英語が話せ Although I am studying, I can't speak English.
"although"
ない。
Adjectives
(conditional), Kaette kitara, yokatta no ni.
verbs It would have been niceif you had come home.
帰ってきたら、よかったのに。
(conditional):
"would have"
Hikkosu no ni torakku ga
Verb (plain hitsuyō da.
form): "in order 引っ越すのにトラックが必要 (In order) to move, you need a truck.
to"
だ。
Functions as: Masculine sentence/phrase final particle, indicating explanation of obvious facts.
It
sa/saa is softer than yo.
さ・さあ・さぁ Saa: Feminine sentence/phrase final particle, used likene, but often more frequently as extremely
colloquial filler.
Kanojo ga inai kara, dansu niwa
Phrases: ikanai sa.
masculine sa 彼女がいないから、ダンスには I don't have a girlfriend, so I'm not going to the dance.
行かないさ。
Phrases: saa Kinō saa, gakkō de saa, sensei Like, yesterday, in, like, school, I, like, got fussed at by, like,
ni saa, chūi sarete saa, chō some teacher, and it totally made me sick.
mukatsuita.
昨日さあ、学校でさあ、先生に
さあ、注意されてさあ、超むか
ついた。
Sae: "even"
Note the meaning overlaps with mo. Sae implies (usually) positive emphasis that the evident
sae
さえ extent of something is greater than initially expected. Can be followed by mo for additional
emphasis. Contrast this with sura.
sae...ba/ra
Function: sae followed by a verb in the conditional means "if only".
さえ…ば・ら
shi
Translates to: "and what's more" (conjunction)
し
to
Translates to: "and" (conjunction); "with" or "as with" (preposition); "if"; quotation.
と
Verbs: taiyōkei dasshutsu e to They were getting closeto the point of leaving the Solar
transition/state chikazuite itta System.
change
太陽系 脱出 へ と 近づいて 行
った。
to ka Functions as: A listing particle used likenado. Often used with the question wordnani (what) in
the form nantoka ("something or other").
とか
Etymology: to + ka
Kani to ka, hotate to ka,zenbu
tabeta yo.
Nouns 蟹とか、帆立とか、全部食べた We had crab, scallops, [other stuff,]we ate them all.
よ。
Dō shiyō to mo amari
susumanai. No matter how we try [to do something], we don't make
Volitional verbs どうしようともあまり進まな much progress.
い。
Kau to mo kawanai to mo
Verb (paired hakkiri shite imasen.
with same verb 買うとも買わないともはっきり It isn't clear whether they're going to buy or not.
in negative)
していません。
Verb, adjectives
Waratte ii to mo.
This use is It's okay to laugh.
similar to 笑っていいとも。[4]
the English
expression,
"as if
[something] Ikimasen to mo.
wouldn't As if I would go.
行きませんとも。
[phrase]."
tte Written as って in hiragana, this is another form ofto. It is a shortened version oftoiu (という), the
って present progressive form of the verbiu (言う), "to say"; it functions as a type of verbalquotation
mark. It is sometimes used for a direct quote, sometimes for an indirect quote, and sometimes
simply to emphasize a word or concept.
tte is casual, and (because it can be a direct quote) the politeness level of the quoted material
does not necessarily reflect on the speaker. If you wish to be assuredly formal, use to iimasu
instead of tte.
Sugu kimasu tte Could be, "He said he'll come soon" (more politely) or
, "He
すぐ来ますって。 said, 'I'll come soon.'" (less so).
Any phrase
Arabiago tte, muzukashikunai? "Arabic─isn't it difficult?"
アラビア語って難しくない? (Emphasizing a word; used instead ofというものは or は)
tteba Functions as:'strong emphasis marker, especially when the speaker has grown impatient.
ってば Etymology: te + ba
wa は wa is a topic marker. It is written with the hiraganaは ha, rather than the hiraganaわ, wa. Not
は to be confused with the particleが.
わ wa is used at the end of the sentence to establish an emotional connection. It is used by both
wa genders when it is pronounced with a falling intonation especially in dialects of Kansai, Nagoya
わ and elsewhere, but with a rising intonation, it is generally used by females. This also conveys a
certain deference to the speaker's wishes and emotions.
ya Ya is used to make incomplete lists of things (usually nouns).To make an exhaustive list, the
や particle to is used instead.
yara
Denotes either uncertainty or listing.
やら
Yo comes at the end of the sentence, and is used to make assertions. Compare
zo and ze below.
yo Yo is also sometimes used after nouns, and functions as a vocative marker. This is especially
よ used in older speech, poetry, and songs.
Kaeru yo!
"I'm going home!"
帰るよ!
Saraba, tomo yo
"Farewell, oh friend!"
さらば友よ。
yori Yori can mean "from", and is also used to make comparisons.Yori is usually written より in
より hiragana.
Dare-yori-mo kanemochi-ni
naritai "I want to become richer than anyone (else)".
誰よりも金持ちになりたい。
ze
ze indicates assertion. Used mostly by men, it is never considered polite. Compare
yo and zo.
ぜ
zo zo indicates assertion. Used mainly by men, it is considered somewhat less forceful and more
ぞ positive than ze. Compare yo and ze above.
Zutsu denotes an equal or gradual distribution of quantity like "at a time" in "one at a time", "by" in
zutsu "one by one", or "each" in "one each". It usually follows counted nouns, and is written with
ずつ hiragana as ずつ.
Chokorēto-o ni-ko-zutsu
tabemashita Either "I ate two pieces of chocolate on each (countable)
Noun: counted チョコレートを二個ずつ食べま times." or "Each one ate (=shared) two pieces of chocolate
(from larger amount)."
した。
Contrast
は wa and が ga
に ni and で de
Ni and de can both be used to show location, corresponding to the prepositions "in" or "at" in English. Their uses are mutually
exclusive.
Ni, when used to show location, is used only with stative verbs such as iru, "to be, exist;" aru, "to be, exist, have;" and sumu, "to live,
inhabit."
De is used with action verbs to convey the place of action, as opposed to location of being.
に ni and へ e
Ni and e can both indicate direction of motion, meaning "to" or "at" in English. In this sense, e is perhaps closer to English "towards"
in terms of use (see example below). As long as ni is used directionally, it is possible to substitute e in its place. Ni used in other
senses cannot be replaced bye:
学校に行く。 (Gakkō ni iku. "I'm going to school"), where学校 gakkō, "school," is the destination of 行く iku, "go."
Gakkō e iku. "I'm going to school," wheregakkō, "school," is the destination ofiku, "go."
学校にいる。 (Gakkō ni iru. "I'm at school"), where学校 gakkō, "school," is the location of いる iru, "be;" not a
destination.
Gakkō e iru. *"I'm to school," is not a possible construction since "be" is not a verb of motion.
友達に会う。 (Tomodachi ni au "I'll meet my friends") where友達 tomodachi, "friends," is the indirect object of 会う
au, "meet;" not a destination.
Tomodachi e au *"I'll meet to my friends," which is impossible because "meet" is not a verb of motion.
本を買いに行った。 (Hon o kai ni itta "I went to buy a book"), where買いに kai ni, "to buy," shows purpose or intent,
and is a verbal adverb; not destination.
Hon o kai e itta *"I went towards buying a book," is not possible becausekai, "buying," cannot be a destination.
が ga and を o
In some cases, ga and o are interchangeable. For example, with the tai form, meaning "want to", it is possible to say either of the
following:
に ni and と to
Ni and to are sometimes interchangeable in forms like になる ni naru and となる to naru. The ni naru form suggests a natural
change, whereas to naru suggests change to a final stage.
や ya and と to
Ya is used for incomplete lists, whereasto is used for complete ones.
Historical particles
[5]
い i was used in Old Japanese and kanbun works. Its meaning is still debated, but has traditionally been considered emphatic.
テーブルの上にある。
Tēburu-no -ue-ni aru.
Table-OF top/up-AT exists.
"It's on the table."
あの人は、ギターについて何でもわかる。
Ano hito-wa, gitā-ni tsuite nandemo wakaru.
That person-TOPIC guitar-TO concerning anything knows.
"That person knows everything about guitars."
See also
Adposition
Chinese particles
Okinawan particles
Korean particles
Japanese counter words
Japanese grammar: particles
Japanese verb conjugations
Sentence-final particle
Notes
1. Nanka/nante is usually followed by a verb which conveys some kind of undervalue, lacking, or dislike, often in the
negative.
2. Can immediately followi-adjectives, using the adjective's ku form if followed by the negative, or if the adjective is
followed by no. Na-adjectives require the copula da or no before nante or nanka.
3. Phrases ending in a noun orna-adjective require the na form of the copula before the nominalizingno.
4. Title of a Japanese TV programme hosted byTamori.
5. Frellesvig, Bjark (2010).A History of the Japanese Language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 131.
ISBN 9780521653206.
References
Chino, Naoko. How to Tell the Difference Between JapaneseParticles. Tokyo; New York: Kodansha International,
2005. ISBN 4-7700-2200-X.
Martin, Samuel E. A Reference Grammar of Japanese. New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press, 1975. ISBN 0-
300-01813-4.
Makino, Seiichi, and Michio Tsutsui. A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar. Tokyo: Japan Times, 1986. ISBN 4-
7890-0454-6.
Makino, Seiichi, and Michio Tsutsui. A Dictionary of Intermediate Japanese Grammar. Tokyo: Japan Times, 1997.
ISBN 4-7890-0775-8.
McClain, Yoko Matsuoka. A Handbook of Modern Japanese Grammar: Including Lists of Words and Expressions
with English Equivalents for Reading Aid. Tokyo: Hokuseido Press, 1981.ISBN 4-590-00570-0, ISBN 0-89346-149-
0.
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