Nihongo Nihongo
JLPT N5 Japanese Particles
Japanese N5 particles are tiny words that play a big role in Japanese grammar. They connect nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs to show their relationship in a sentence.
Here are some of the most common N5 particles you’ll encounter:
1. は (wa): This particle is a topic marker. It indicates the topic of the sentence, which is what the sentence is about.
田中さんは学生です。
(Tanaka-san wa gakusei desu)
Tanaka is a student. (Tanaka is the topic)
2. が (ga): This particle has several uses, but at N5 level, it’s mainly used as a subject marker. It indicates the subject of the sentence, which performs the action of the verb.
私は日本語を勉強します。
(Watashi wa nihongo o benkyō shimasu)
I study Japanese. (Watashi = I, the subject)
3. を (o): This particle is an object marker. It indicates the object of the verb, the thing being acted upon.
リンゴを食べます。
(Ringo o tabemasu)
I eat an apple. (Ringo = apple, the object being eaten)
4. の (no): This particle has many uses, but at N5 level, it’s mainly used as a possessive marker. It shows possession or connection between a noun and another word.
田中さんの本。
(Tanaka-san no hon)
Tanaka’s book. (The book belongs to Tanaka)
5. から (kara): This particle indicates source, reason, or starting point.
日本から来ました。
(Nihon kara kimashita)
I came from Japan. (Japan is the source)
6. へ (e): This particle indicates direction or destination.
学校へ行きます。
(Gakkou e ikimasu)
I go to school. (School is the destination)
7. と (to): This particle has several uses, but at N5 level, it’s mainly used to connect nouns or noun phrases. It can mean “and” or “with.”
リンゴとバナナ。
(Ringo to banana)
Apple and banana
Learning Tips:
Don’t memorize all the uses of a particle at once. Focus on the most common use at N5 level.
Use flashcards or practice sentences to solidify your understanding.
Pay attention to how particles are used in conversations and media you consume in Japanese.
Related Post:
JLPT N5 Particles Quiz
Basic Japanese Particles
