N5Lesson 19 of 439 min
The particles you need daily
を, に, で, へ, と, も, から, まで: what each one marks.
These eight particles cover most of what you need at N5. Each one attaches after the word it marks, exactly like a Hindi postposition.
〜を: the object
Marks what the verb acts on. Written を but pronounced o.
- ご飯を食べます ごはんをたべますगोहान ओ ताबेमासुI eat rice
- 水を飲みます みずをのみますमिज़ु ओ नोमिमासुI drink water
〜に: destination, time, recipient
This is the busiest particle you will meet. It marks where you are going, when something happens, and who receives something.
- 学校に行きます がっこうにいきますगाक्कोउ नि इकिमासुI go to school
- 七時に起きます しちじにおきますशिचिजि नि ओकिमासुI get up at seven
- 友達に電話します ともだちにでんわしますतोमोदाचि नि देन्वा शिमासुI call my friend
〜で: where the action happens, and how
The contrast with に catches people out: に is where you end up; で is where you do something.
| Sentence | Particle | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 学校に行きます | に | School is the destination |
| 学校で勉強します | で | School is where the studying happens |
| 電車で行きます | で | The train is the means |
The rest
| Particle | Marks | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 〜へ | direction (interchangeable with に for movement) | 日本へ行きます | I go to Japan |
| 〜と | with, and (between nouns) | 友達と行きます | I go with a friend |
| 〜も | also, too: replaces は or を | 私も学生です | I am a student too |
| 〜から | from | 九時から | from nine o’clock |
| 〜まで | until | 五時まで | until five o’clock |
| 〜の | possession, linking nouns | 私の本 | my book |