Japanese Grammar – Particles
The function of Japanese particles
Japanese particles are small words that indicate relations of words within a sentence. They follow other words such as nouns, verbs, adjectives are parts of a sentence. Some but not all can be compared to prepositions in English. The Japanese language uses a total of 188 particles.List of 188 Japanese particles
| No | Particle | Meaning / usage |
| 1 | は (wa) | Indicantes the topic of a sentence |
| 2 | か (ka) | At the end of a sentence indicating a question |
| 3 | が (ga) | Indicates the subject of a sentence |
| 4 | に (ni) | Indicates a location |
| 5 | の (no) | Indicates possession |
| 6 | は (wa) | Indicates a contrast between 2 items |
| 7 | に (ni) | Indicates time or frequency |
| 8 | へ (e) | Indicates direction |
| 9 | を (wo/o) | Indicates the direct object of a verb |
| 10 | と (to) | Used to connect and list up multiple items |
| 11 | や (ya) | Used to connect and partially list up multiple items |
| 12 | など (nado) | Used with や (ya) to partially list up multiple items |
| 13 | も (mo) | means “too”, “either”, “also” |
| 14 | も (mo) | both…and…, neither…nor… |
| 15 | に (ni) | Indicates the indirect object of a verb |
| 16 | に (ni) | Indicates the surface of a object where some action takes place |
| 17 | で (de) | Indicates the location of an action |
| 18 | と (to) | Together with |
| 19 | の (no) | Indicates an apposition |
| 20 | から (kara) | Indicates a starting point in time or place |
| 21 | より (yori) | Indicates a starting point in time or place but more formal than kara (20) |
| 22 | まで (made) | Indicates a limit on time, space or quantity |
| 23 | くらい (kurai) | Indicates an approximate amount |
| 24 | ほど (hodo) | Indicates an approximate amount |
| 25 | ばかり(bakari) | Indicates an approximate amount |
| 26 | で (de) | Indicates a means or material |
| 27 | か (ka) | Indicates a choice or alternative |
| 28 | を (wo/o) | Indicates a point of departure |
| 29 | を (wo/o) | Indicates a route of a movement/motion |
| 30 | に (ni) | Indicates a point of arrival |
| 31 | に (ni) | Indicates an entering motion |
| 32 | に (ni) | Used together with a verb to express a purpose |
| 33 | と (to) | Used when quoting someone |
| 34 | と いう (to iu) | Indicates the name of something |
| 35 | とか (toka) | “something like” |
| 36 | で (de) | Indicates a limit or scope |
| 37 | と (to) | Indicates a comparison |
| 38 | より (yori) | Indicates a comparison |
| 39 | より (yori) | Indicates superlative |
| 40 | くらい (kurai) | Indicates a comparison |
| 41 | ほど (hodo) | Indicates a comparison in a negative sentence |
| 42 | か (ka) | someone, something |
| 43 | も (mo) | “nothing”, nobody”, nowhere” if used with an interrogative word |
| 44 | に (ni) | Used with a verb to indicate a change or choice |
| 45 | をする (wo/o suru) | Expresses an occupation or position |
| 46 | でも (demo) | Indicates emphasis |
| 47 | でも (demo) | Together with an interrogative word it means “anything”, “anyone”, any time” |
| 48 | で (de) | Indicates a cause or a reason |
| 49 | から (kara) | Indicates a source such as a giver, a cause or material |
| 50 | に (ni) | Indicates a person who gives something or who provides a service |
| 51 | は (wa) + が (ga) | Indicates the relation between an object / subjects and a verb or adjective |
| 52 | が (ga) | Connects two sentences with the meaning “but…” |
| 53 | を (wo/o) | Used with an verb expressing emotions, it indicates the cause of this emotion |
| 54 | で (de) | Indicates a state / condition of something |
| 55 | で (de) | Limits numbers |
| 56 | だけ (dake) | Indicates a limit on things or amounts |
| 57 | だけ (dake) | Indicates a limit on an action or state |
| 58 | で (de) | Indicates the time of completion or expiration of something |
| 59 | でも (demo) | Following a noun, means “or something like this” |
| 60 | も (mo) | Emphasizes in a positive or negative way |
| 61 | でも (demo) | Indicates two or more items as an example of a larger list |
| 62 | ばかり (bakari) | Indicates that an item, state or action is a single one |
| 63 | ばかり (bakari) | Indicates an action was just completed |
| 64 | ところ (tokoro) | Indicates that an action takes place, just took place or is about to take place |
| 65 | が (ga) | Indicates the subject of subordinate clause when it is different from the subject of the main clause |
| 66 | から (kara) | conjunction meaning “after” or “since” |
| 67 | ながら (nagara) | Indicates that an action is happening simultaneously |
| 68 | が (ga) | Indicates the subject of a relative clause |
| 69 | の (no) | Indicates the subject of a relative clause |
| 70 | から (kara) | Used as a conjunction and indicates a cause or reason |
| 71 | ので (node) | Indicates a strong reason |
| 72 | の (no) | Indicates a modified pronoun |
| 73 | の (no) | Used to nominalize verbs & sentences |
| 74 | なら (nara) | Used as a conjunction and indicates a supposition or condition |
| 75 | なら (nara) | Indicates a topics and is used as an alternative to wa (No.1) |
| 76 | と (to) | Indicates a condition that results in an inevitable outcome |
| 77 | ば (ba) | Used as a conjunction to express a probable results |
| 78 | ばいい (ba) | “all you have to do…” |
| 79 | ば (ba) | Used to enumerate two or more actions or states |
| 80 | たら (tara) | Used as a conjunction, indicates a supposition or condition |
| 81 | たら (tara) | Used as a conjunction to indicate that one action takes place before the action described in the main sentence |
| 82 | ところ (tokoro) | Used as a conjunction to indicate a condition that brings about a discovery |
| 83 | ても (temo) | a conjunction meaning “even if” |
| 84 | ても (temo) | Used with a set of contrasting verbs and adjectives |
| 85 | ても (temo) | Together with an interrogative word it means “no matter what/where/who” |
| 86 | ては (tewa) | Indicates a condition which will bring a negative conclusion |
| 87 | のみ (nomi) | Indicates a limit (similar to だけ dake) |
| 88 | まで (made) | “even”, used to emphasize |
| 89 | さえ (sae) | “even”, used to emphasize |
| 90 | さえ (sae) | “if only” or “as long as” |
| 91 | のに (noni) | “although”, “in spite of the fact that” |
| 92 | ながら (nagara) | “although”, “though”, “but” |
| 93 | とか (toka) | Indicates that a list of two ore more things or actions is not exhaustive |
| 94 | たり (tari) | List of two or more actions in no particular sequence |
| 95 | たり (tari) | Indicates actions or states that alternate |
| 96 | のに (noni) | Indicates a purpose or function |
| 97 | のです (no desu) | Asks for an explanation or reason |
| 98 | きり (kiri) | Indicates a limit to an amount |
| 99 | きり (kiri) | Indicates the last time a certain incident occured |
| 100 | とも (tomo) | Used with numbers and counters to mean “both” or “all” |
| 101 | ながら (nagara) | Used with numbers and counters to mean “both” or “all” |
| 102 | しか (shika) | Used with a negative verb to indicate limits on conditions or quantities meaning “only” |
| 103 | しかない (shika nai) | used with a verb meaning “to have no choice but to” |
| 104 | し (shi) | Used as a conjunction, indicating two or more actions or states |
| 105 | し (shi) | Used as a conjunction indicating a reason |
| 106 | とも (tomo) | Indicates inclusion |
| 107 | に (ni) | Indicates the one acting or the one acted upon |
| 108 | か (ka) | Indicates uncertainty about something |
| 109 | か (ka) | Indicates uncertainty about a state or reason |
| 110 | だの (dano) | Indicates two or more items or actions of a longer list (similar to toka とか) |
| 111 | だの (dano) | Indicates a pair of opposite actions or states |
| 112 | など (nado) | “something to the effect” |
| 113 | やら (yara) | Indicates two or more items of a longer list |
| 114 | やら (yara) | Indicates uncertainty |
| 115 | ても (temo) | Indicates an approximate limit with the meaning of “at the most” |
| 116 | とも (tomo) | Indicates an approximate maximum or minimum |
| 117 | は (wa) | Indicates that a number is the higher or lowest limit |
| 118 | と (to) | Emphasizes a number in a negative sentence |
| 119 | など (nado) | Indicates examples |
| 120 | くらい (kurai) | Expresses an extent of an action or condition similar to ぐらい gurai |
| 121 | ほど (hodo) | Indicates the extend of an action or condition |
| 122 | ほど (hodo) | “the more… the more…” |
| 123 | だけ (dake) | “as… as…” |
| 124 | だけ (dake) | “the more… the more…” |
| 125 | と (to) | “about to do something”, “trying to do something” |
| 126 | と (to) | “even if…”, “whether… or not” |
| 127 | なり (nari) | “either…”, “whether…or” |
| 128 | なり (nari) | “anything”, “anyone”, “any time” |
| 129 | こそ (koso) | Emphasizes the word preceding it |
| 130 | こそ (koso) | Emphasizes a reason or a cause |
| 131 | ては (tewa) | Expresses repetition of an action |
| 132 | に (ni) | Joins two or more nouns to indicate a list of items |
| 133 | に (ni) | Connects two or more items to indicate a matching or a contrast |
| 134 | にしては (ni shite wa) | Indicates a generally agreed upon standard |
| 135 | にとって (ni totte) | Indicates an effect or value of a person or thing |
| 136 | について (ni tsuite) | “about”, “concerning” something or someone |
| 137 | とも…とも (tomo… tomo) | “can’t say whether… or…” |
| 138 | が (ga) | “even if”, “whether… or not” |
| 139 | は (wa) | Emphasizes contrasting elements |
| 140 | として (toshite) | Indicates status, capacity or function |
| 141 | として (toshite) | Provides emphasis in a negative sentence |
| 142 | ばかりでなく(bakari de naku) | “not only… but also” |
| 143 | だけ (dake) | used to express “not only…but also” |
| 144 | のみ (nomi) | used to express “not only…but also” |
| 145 | なり (nari) | “as soon as” |
| 146 | がはやいか (ga hayai ka) | “as soon as” |
| 147 | やいなや (ya ina ya) | “as soon as” |
| 148 | かないうちに (ka nai uchi ni) | “no sooner had”, “hardly had” |
| 149 | ばかり (bakari) | Indicates the only action left to do |
| 150 | ばかりに (bakari ni) | Emphasizes a reason or cause |
| 151 | すら (sura) | Emphasizes in the meaning of “even” |
| 152 | など (nado) | Expresses a humble attitude towards an item |
| 153 | とも (tomo) | “no matter what”, “even if” |
| 154 | ともあろうひと (tomo aroo hito) | To express that someone did something not to be expected |
| 155 | どころか (dokoro ka) | “far from”, “not to mention” |
| 156 | だけに (dake ni) | Indicates a cause or reason |
| 157 | までもない (made mo nai) | “there is no need to…” |
| 158 | ものの (mono no) | “but” or “although” |
| 159 | ところで (tokoro de) | “even if” |
| 160 | けれども (keredomo) | Connects 2 sentences meaning “but” or “although” |
| 161 | けれども (keredomo) | Indicates a preliminary remark |
| 162 | が (ga) | Used to soften a statement or refusal |
| 163 | けれども (keredomo) | Indicates a desire |
| 164 | ね (ne) | At the end of a sentence to confirm a statement |
| 165 | ね (ne) | At the end of a sentence to soften a request or suggestion |
| 166 | ね (ne) | At the end of a sentence to indicate a reason or cause |
| 167 | ねえ (nee) | At the end of a sentence to indicate emotion |
| 168 | よ (yo) | At the end of a sentence to state a strong conviction |
| 169 | よ (yo) | At the end of a sentence to articulate a request or suggestion |
| 170 | かしら (kashira) | At the end of a sentence to express uncertainty, a request or a question and mainly used by women |
| 171 | かな (kana) | At the end of a sentence to express uncertainty, a request or a question and mainly used by men |
| 172 | な (na) | At the end of a sentence and used by men to confirm a statement |
| 173 | な (na) | At the end of a sentence to express a prohibition, used by men |
| 174 | なあ (naa) | At the end of a sentence to express emotion, used by men |
| 175 | なあ (naa) | At the end of a sentence to express a desire |
| 176 | の (no) | At the end of a sentence to express a question or soften a command, used by women |
| 177 | わ (wa) | At the end of a sentence to soften a statement, used by women |
| 178 | さ (sa) | At the end of a sentence to indicate slight emphasis, used by men |
| 179 | こと (koto) | At the end of a sentence to indicate emotion, used by women |
| 180 | こと (koto) | At the end of a sentence to express a suggestion or invitation, used by women |
| 181 | もの (mono) | At the end of a sentence to express a reason or excuse |
| 182 | とも (tomo) | At the end of a sentence to express an assertion |
| 183 | ものか (monoka) | At the end of a sentence to express a negative determination, used by men |
| 184 | や (ya) | At the end of a sentence to soften a statement, request or suggestion, used by men |
| 185 | たら (tara) | At the end of a sentence to indicate a suggestion or proposal |
| 186 | やら (yara) | At the end of a sentence to indicate a rhetorical question with a negative implication |
| 187 | ぜ (ze) | At the end of a sentence to add for to sentence, used by men |
| 188 | ぞ (zo) | At the end of a sentence to add force to a sentence or to express a question to oneself |