Grammar Info
N5 Lesson 2: 6/12

Object marking particle

Structure
Object +
Details
Part of Speech Particle
Word Type Case Marking Particle
Register Standard
品詞 助詞
単語の種類 格助詞
使用域 一般
Information
In Japanese, is a particle that marks the object of an action. This means that the subject (the person or thing performing an action) is performing that action with the object being the goal/target of the action. In most cases, whatever is attached to will not actually be ‘doing’ anything, but will instead have something being done to it.
  • ラーメン食(た)べ
    To eat ramen.
  • 歌(うた)歌(うた)います
    To sing a song.
In these sentences, is marking the thing that is having an action performed ‘on’ it. This is how the Japanese language views the ‘object’. However, unlike English, an object can also be a place in which an action is performed ‘through’, if the goal of that action is based in that location itself.
  • 公園(こうえん)歩(ある)
    To walk through a park. (The park is the object that ‘walking’ is being performed through)
  • 建物(たてもの)中(なか)走(はし)
    To run through a building. (The inside of the building is the object that ‘running’ is being performed through)
In these sentences, is marking the place ‘through’ which the action is taking place. This use of highlights that the place itself is what is being interacted with (running/walking requires interaction with the ground, so the ground/place is the object).
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漢字(かんじ)覚(おぼ)える
To memorize kanji.
[object marker・particle]
Play  
何(なに)食(た)べます
What will you have to eat?
[object marker・particle]
Play  
バター食(た)べる
To eat butter.
[object marker・particle]
Play  
Books
Genki I 2nd Edition
Page 90
みんなの日本語 I
Page 44 [CH 6]
Genki I
Page 61
[DBJG] A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar
Page 347
Tae Kim's Japanese Grammar Guide
Page 54