Grammar

What is a particle?

The small words that mark roles in a sentence

A particle is a small word after another word that says what role the word plays in the sentence — who does, what is done, whose.

Word order: the verb comes last

Topic first, verb last, and particles keep track of the rest

Topic first, verb last, and the rest in between in almost any order — the particles keep track of the roles.

は or が?

は sets the topic (known); が points out who or what (new)

は sets the topic — what you are talking about. が points out who or what: the new thing, the answer to a question, what exists, what you like or can do.

Polite and casual: two ways of speaking

Japanese has two modes. With ます and です you speak politely — to the teacher, in a shop, to someone you do not know. With friends and family they fall away.

How to ask a question

か at the end turns any sentence into a question; the word order does not change. The question word stands where the answer will stand.

Tell a verb's type

Every verb is ichidan (る-verb), godan (う-verb), or irregular — the class decides how it conjugates.

The irregular verbs: する and くる

Japanese has two irregular verbs, する “do” and くる “come”. Every other verb follows the RU or U pattern.

Tell an adjective's type

い-adjectives end in い; な-adjectives take な before a noun — but a few い-ending words (きれい, ゆうめい) are actually な-adjectives.

Distance is measured from the speaker

こ is near me, そ is near you, あ is far from us both. The same three sounds run this/that, this book, here/there.

Build numbers from a few parts

Ten words get you to 99. With ひゃく and せん you reach the thousands. Then a counter is attached: えん, さい, じ, つ.

Time: when something happens

Clock times and weekdays stand with に. Days like きょう and あした stand without. から…まで spans an interval; いつ asks when.

Describe how something is

describe something with an い-adjective

An い-adjective describes a noun and can sit at the end of a sentence on its own.

Describe something with a な-adjective

[something] is [な-adjective]

A な-adjective takes です at the end to describe something politely.

Say what happens after something else

after [action or time], ...

後で marks that something happens after an action or a point in time.

Say what time it is

じ marks the hour and ふん marks the minutes when telling the time; はん means "half past".

Say what something is

say what something is

です politely links a topic to what it is: 'X is Y'.

Say what something isn't

じゃありません is the polite negative of です — "is not" instead of "is".

Count things and people with the right counter

Japanese puts a counter word after the number, chosen by what the thing IS.

Say someone's age

さい attaches to a number to count age — "… years old."

Say a price

えん attaches to a number to count money — “… yen.”

Thank someone politely

ありがとうございます is the polite thank-you. The short ありがとう is for friends.

Ask for something politely

おねがいします is the polite way to ask for something. Name what you want first: みず、おねがいします.

Close an introduction casually

よろしく is the casual short form of よろしくおねがいします. Use it with friends and classmates, not with a teacher.

Close an introduction

よろしくおねがいします closes an introduction. You say it exactly as it is, and the other person says it back.

Say 'only' or 'just' about something

only [noun or amount]

だけ means 'only' or 'just', limiting something to one thing or amount.

Name the days of the week

Each weekday name ends in ようび, and なんようび asks "what day?".

Say 'very'

とても means "very" or "really" — it sits right before the word it strengthens, with no particle.

Make a polite guess or seek agreement

[something] probably / I suppose / right?

でしょう adds 'probably' or 'I suppose', a polite guess about something.

Say what there is

あります says a thing exists somewhere; います says a person or creature does.

Explain the background

explain why you're saying it

んです adds a “that’s why” or a “you see” — you are explaining something, not just stating it.

Say how often you do things

Words like まいにち, よく, and ときどき say how often something happens, with no particle attached.

Say you can do something

someone can do [something]

できます says you 'can do' something, with the thing marked by が.

Say you want something

I want [thing]

Use this to say you want a thing.

Say someone's good at something

someone is good at [something]

Use this to say someone is good at something.

Say what you like

someone likes [something]

Use this to say you like something.

Open a first meeting

はじめまして opens a first meeting. You say it once, to someone you have never met before.

Greet someone in the morning

おはようございます is the polite morning greeting. It holds until around noon, then こんにちは takes over.

Give an approximate amount

about [amount]

Use this to give an approximate amount.

Say one thing is not as much as another

A is not as [adjective/verb] as B

Use this to say one thing is not as much as another.

Point out the better or bigger side in a comparison

[noun] is more ... (than the other)

Use this to point out the bigger or preferred side in a comparison.

Say something is the most or the best

the most [adjective] of all

Use this to say something is the most of all.

Express that something might be the case

[something] might be / may be the case

Adds the meaning 'might' or 'may' to express that something is possible but not certain.

Describe getting from one place to another by transport

from [place] to [place] by [means of transport]

Describes travelling from one place to another by a specific means of transport, combining the source particle から, the goal particle まで, and the means particle で.

Link two ideas with 'but' or 'although'

[clause A], but [clause B]

A casual conjunction that links two clauses with a sense of contrast, similar to 'but' or 'although' in English.

Point to something far from both of you

that [noun] over there

A modifier meaning 'that ... over there' — placed directly before a noun to point to something far from both speaker and listener.

Address someone by name, politely

Mr; Ms; -san (polite name suffix)

さん after a name is a politeness ending, like 'Mr' or 'Ms' — never used about yourself.

Point to something far from both of you

that thing over there is ...

A pronoun meaning 'that one over there' — refers to something far from both the speaker and the listener.

Point to a thing near you

this [noun] (near me)

A modifier meaning 'this ...' — placed directly before a noun to point to something close to the speaker.

Point something out (this / that)

point to things by distance

A pronoun meaning 'this' — refers to something close to the speaker.

Point to a thing near the listener

that [noun] (near you)

Use その right before a noun to point at a thing near the listener (that ... by you).

Refer to a thing near the listener as a pronoun

that thing (near you) is ...

それ is a standalone pronoun meaning 'that thing' near the listener, often marked by the topic particle は (pronounced wa).

Say something is becoming a certain way

become [adjective] / get [adjective]

Drop the final い of an い-adjective and add くなる to say something becomes that quality.

Say big numbers

Big numbers stack a multiplier onto ひゃく (100) or せん (1000).

Say something hasn't happened yet

have not [done] yet

Pair まだ with 〜ていません to say something has not happened yet.

Say "before" doing something

before doing ~ / before [noun]

Add 前に after a dictionary-form verb or a noun plus の to say 'before' that action or time.

Suggest doing something together

let's [do ~] / shall we [do ~]?

Attach ましょう to a verb stem to politely suggest doing something together (let's ...).

Say something has already happened

have already done ~

Combine もう with a past-tense verb to say something has already been done.

Say you have to do something

must do ~ / have to do ~

This pattern says you have to do something.

Say something becomes or changes

something becomes [new state]

This pattern says something becomes or turns into a new state.

Say something is hard to do

[action] is hard to do

This pattern says an action is hard or difficult to do.

Ask for something to be given to you

please give me [thing]

This pattern politely asks someone to give you a thing.

Say an amount

A number slots straight into the X は Y です frame to state an amount.

Count in Japanese

The everyday readings for saying numbers aloud, from 0 to 9999.

Say what you're acting on

mark what a verb acts on

It marks the noun that the verb acts on.

Mark where an action takes place

[place] where an action happens

The particle で marks the place where an action happens.

Choose between で (action) and に (existence) after a place

[place] + で = doing there / [place] + に = being there

The particle で marks where an action happens, unlike に for existence.

Say how you do something

by / with (means)

で marks the means — the tool, method, or transport you use to do something.

Point out the subject of a sentence

[subject] does/is something

The particle が marks the subject — who or what does or is something.

Point to the direction you are heading

heading toward [place]

へ points to the direction or destination you are heading toward.

Mark a starting point in space, time, or reason

from [point] / since [time] / because [reason]

から marks where something starts in space or time, or gives a reason.

Mark the end point in space or time

up to [place] / until [time]

まで marks the end point in space or time, meaning 'up to' or 'until'.

Say 'also' or 'too'

also; too (the same applies to this one)

も adds the meaning 'also' or 'too' to the noun it follows.

Invite agreement or soften a statement

isn't it; right; don't you think

ね at the end of a sentence seeks agreement or confirmation, like 'right?'.

Pin down exactly when something happens

at / on [specific time]

に after a time word pins down exactly when an action happens.

Say where something or someone is

[something] is / exists at [place]

に marks the place where someone or something simply exists.

Link two nouns to show possession or type

[noun A]'s [noun B]; [noun B] of [noun A]

の links two nouns, showing the first one owns or describes the second.

List things together or say who you do something with

A and B (complete list); with [person]

と joins nouns into a complete "and" list, or marks who you do something with.

Set the topic of a sentence

as for [topic]; speaking of [topic]

は marks the topic, telling the listener what the rest of the sentence is about.

Assert new information or emphasize your point

you know; I'm telling you; [strong assertion]

よ at the end of a sentence tells the listener something new or emphasizes your point.

Say where something sits

Position words like うえ (on), した (under), and なか (inside) attach to a place with の to say where something is.

React to a price

たかいです and やすいです are fixed reactions to a price — "pricey!" and "cheap!".

Ask who someone is

Who is [person/thing]?

だれ is the question word for asking "who."

Ask where something is

Where is [thing/place]?

どこ is the question word for asking "where."

Ask which one out of many

Which one is [description]?

どれ is the question word for asking "which one" out of three or more things.

Ask how something is or what someone thinks

How is [thing]? / What do you think of [thing]?

どう asks how something is or what someone thinks about it.

Ask how much something costs

How much is [thing]?

いくら asks how much something costs.

Ask when something happens

When does [action] happen?

いつ asks when something happens.

Turn a statement into a yes/no question

Is [it] ...? / Are [you] ...?

か at the end of a sentence turns a statement into a yes/no question — no word order change needed.

Ask what something is

What is [thing]?

なに asks what something is.

List several reasons or qualities

[reason/quality], and [reason/quality], and so on

〜し lists several reasons or qualities together, like 'and what's more'.

Say there is only (not enough)

only ~ (and that's not enough)

しか〜ない means 'only', with a hint that it isn't as much as you'd like.

Share what you think or believe

I think that ~

〜と思う states what the speaker thinks or believes.

Say when something happens

when ~, [main action]

Use とき after a verb or adjective to say "when" something happens.

Say what you plan to do

I intend to [do something] / I plan to [do something]

Use つもり to say you intend or plan to do something.

Say when something starts and ends

はじまります is “starts” and おわります “ends”, said of events rather than people.

Say something did not happen (polite past)

did not [verb] (polite)

ませんでした is the polite way to say a verb did not happen in the past.

Use polite verb form (present/future)

[verb] (polite present/future)

ます is the basic polite verb ending for the present or future.

Say a verb does not happen (plain negative)

do/does not [verb] (plain speech)

Vない is the plain negative of a verb, saying it does not or will not happen.

Say something did not happen (plain past)

did not [verb] (casual speech)

なかった is the plain past negative of a verb, saying it did not happen.

Say what already happened (plain past)

[verb]-ed (plain past)

Vた is the plain past form of a verb, saying an action already happened.

Say you've done something before

I have done [something] before / I've had the experience of [doing something]

Says you have done something at least once before in your life.

Say what you want to do

I want to do [something]

Says what you yourself want to do.

Connect actions and build other patterns

verb in て-form (connector)

A connecting form of the verb that links to many other patterns.

Ask someone to do something

politely ask someone to do something

Politely asks someone to do something.

Say you're trying something to see how it goes

try doing [something] and see

Says you do something to try it out and see what happens.

Say an action is ongoing, a state continues, or something is a habit

is doing / is in the state of / does regularly

Says an action is going on now, a state continues, or something is a habit.

Ask for or give permission to do something

it's okay to do [something]

Asks for permission to do something, or grants it.

Say something is not allowed

must not do [something]

It tells someone they must not do something.

Say an action is easy to do

easy to do [action]

It says that an action is easy to do.

Compare two things and say which is more

more ... than [something]

It marks the thing you are comparing against.

Country, person, language: じん and ご

The country's name plus じん is the person, plus ご is the language. The exceptions are languages that do not belong to one country: English is えいご.

When someone switches to English

In Japan, someone who looks like they are from abroad often gets English first. にほんごは だいじょうぶです says Japanese is fine.

The word for you: がいこくじん

がいこく is “abroad” and がいこくじん is a person from there. In Japan that is the word for you, and it says only where you come from.

Pronouncing じ, ご and ん

じ is a “j” as in jeans, ご a hard g, and ん is a syllable of its own, as long as the others.

Silent i and u

An i or u between two hard consonants, and the final u of です and ます, is whispered: “des”, “mas”, “s’ki”.

すみません as thank-you

When someone has gone to trouble for you, you often thank them with すみません — a thank-you and a sorry in one word.

は is read “wa”, but only as a particle

The character は is read “ha” in ordinary words and “wa” only as the particle after the topic. こんにちは ends in the same “wa”.

The small っ is a pause

A small っ means: stop for a beat before the next consonant. いって is “it-te”, not “ite”.

Say you are going, coming, or returning

いきます is to go off, きます to come here to the speaker, かえります to go home. Direction is counted from the speaker.

Say who you do something with

After a person, と means “with”: コンくんと いきます, I go with Kon. Between two things the same と is “and”.

Say what you have

ペンが あります is both “there is a pen” and “I have a pen”. Japanese does not split having from existing. Living beings take います.

Go somewhere to do something

The verb stem + に before いきます: たべに いきます, go to eat. The place comes first with へ or に.

Say why — because

The reason comes first and から after it: あぶないですから, because it is dangerous. After a clock time the same から is “from”.

Ask how to get somewhere

The goal first with まで, then どうやって, then the verb: ホテルまで どうやって いきますか. The answer is a route or a means.

Describe a thing with a clause

A plain-form clause stands right in front of a noun and describes it: とった しゃしん, the photo someone took; こんが たべた ラーメン, the ramen Kon ate. The doer inside the clause takes が. There is no word for “that” or “which”.

Talk casually with friends

With friends and family ます and です fall away. The verb stands in its plain form, です becomes だ or nothing: あした いく, ねこだ.

Something and nothing

なに + か is “something”: なにか ある？ なに + も with a negative form is “nothing”: なにも ない. だれか somebody, だれも…ない nobody.

Say how many hours something takes

Number + じかん is hours: いちじかん, one hour. ぐらい after it makes it approximate: にじかんぐらい, about two hours. Ten o'clock is じゅうじ, ten hours is じゅうじかん.