All about Japanese 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
|
Indicantes the topic of a sentence
|
|
2
|
At the end of a sentence indicating a question
|
|
3
|
Indicates the subject of a sentence
|
|
4
|
Indicates a location
|
|
5
|
Indicates possession
|
|
6
|
は (wa)
|
Indicates a contrast between 2 items
|
7
|
に (ni)
|
Indicates time or frequency
|
8
|
Indicates direction
|
|
9
|
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
|
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
|
Indicates the location of an action
|
|
18
|
と (to)
|
Together with
|
19
|
の (no)
|
Indicates an apposition
|
20
|
Indicates a starting point in time or place
|
|
21
|
Indicates a starting point in time or place but more
formal than kara (20)
|
|
22
|
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
|
