Topic Marker: は
The particle は (wa) in Japanese is one of the most important and commonly used particles, functioning primarily as a topic marker. It indicates what the sentence is about, similar to the word "as for" in English. Though は may seem simple, mastering its usage is crucial to building sentences in Japanese.
Basic Usage of は
In a typical sentence, は marks the subject or topic of the sentence, placing emphasis on what comes after the particle. Let's look at some examples.
Structure Explanation [Topic] + は + [Comment] The topic is introduced first, followed by a statement or comment about that topic.
Example Sentences
ねこ は おおき。 - The cat is big.
にほん は おおき。 - Japan is big.
As you can see, は is essential in everyday Japanese. It helps structure your sentences while allowing for flexibility in how you introduce topics.
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The particle は (wa) in Japanese is one of the most important and commonly used particles, functioning primarily as a topic marker. It indicates what the sentence is about, similar to the word "as for" in English. Though は may seem simple, mastering its usage is crucial to building sentences in Japanese.
Basic Usage of は
In a typical sentence, は marks the subject or topic of the sentence, placing emphasis on what comes after the particle. Let's look at some examples.
| Structure | Explanation |
|---|---|
| [Topic] + は + [Comment] | The topic is introduced first, followed by a statement or comment about that topic. |
Example Sentences
ねこ は おおき。 - The cat is big.
にほん は おおき。 - Japan is big.
As you can see, は is essential in everyday Japanese. It helps structure your sentences while allowing for flexibility in how you introduce topics.