Ape Japan Panthiya

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	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

Particles: De

Related Resources

• Particles

What are particles?

Particles are probably one of the most difficult and confusing aspects of Japanese sentences. A particle (joshi) is a word that shows the relationship of a word, a phrase, or a clause to the rest of the sentence. Some particles have English equivalents. Others have functions similar to English prepositions, but since they always follow the word or words they mark, they are post-positions. There are also particles that have a peculiar usage which is not found in English. Most particles are multi-functional. Click here to learn more about particles.

The Particle "De"

Place of Action

It indicates the place where an action takes place. It translates into "in", "at", "on", and so on.

Depaato de kutsu o katta. デパートで靴を買った。	I bought shoes at the department store.
Umi de oyoida. 海で泳いだ。	I swam in the ocean.

Means

It indicates means, method, or instruments. It translates into "by", "with", "in" "by means of", etc.

Basu de gakkou ni ikimasu. バスで学校に行きます。	I go to school by bus.
Nihongo de hanashite kudasai. 日本語で話してください。	Please speak in Japanese.

Totalizing

It is placed after a quantity, time or amount of money, and indicates an extent.

San-nin de kore o tsukutta. 三人でこれを作った。	Three of us made this.
Zenbu de sen-en desu. 全部で千円です。	They cost 1,000 yen altogether.

Scope

It translates into "in", "among", "within", etc.

Kore wa sekai de ichiban ookii desu. これは世界で一番大きいです。	This is the biggest in the world.
Nihon de doko ni ikitai desu ka. 日本でどこに行きたいですか。	Where do you want to go in Japan?

Time Limit

It indicates time consumed for a certain action or occurrence. It translates into "in", "within", etc.

Ichijikan de ikemasu. 一時間で行けます。	We can get there in an hour.
Isshuukan de dekimasu. 一週間でできます。	I can do it in a week.

Material

It indicates the composition of an object.

Toufu wa daizu de tsukurimasu. 豆腐は大豆で作ります。	Tofu is made from soybeans.
Kore wa nendo de tsukutta hachi desu. これは粘土で作ったはちです。	This is a bowl made of clay.

Required Cost

It translates into "for", "at", etc.

Kono hon o juu-doru de katta. この本を十ドルで買った。	I bought this book for ten dollars.
Kore wa ikura de okuremasu ka. これはいくらで送れますか。	How much would it cost to send this?

Cause

It indicates a casual reason or motive for an action or occurrence. It translates into "due to", "because of", "owing to", etc.

Kaze de gakkou o yasunda. 風邪で学校を休んだ。	I was absent from school due to a cold.
Fuchuui de kaidan kara ochita. 不注意で階段から落ちた。	I fell down the stairs due to carelessness.