N5#particles#verbs#grammar#n5

を (Object Particle)

Mark the direct object of an action.

Context

What are you doing?

Imagine you are at a cafe in Tokyo. You want to tell your friend what you are about to eat or drink. You need a way to connect the item (like coffee or cake) to the action (like drinking or eating).

In Japanese, we use a specific particle to show that an item is the 'target' of an action. Without this particle, your sentences would sound like a list of disconnected words. Learning this particle is the key to describing almost any action involving an object.

Explanation

The Object Marker

The particle を (pronounced 'o') marks the direct object of a transitive verb. It tells the listener what is being acted upon.

[Object]を[Verb]

Place the object noun before the particle を, followed by the verb at the end of the sentence. Because Japanese is a SOV (Subject-Object-Verb) language, the verb always comes last.

Watch out

Even though it is written as を, it is pronounced as 'o'. Do not confuse it with the character お (o). Also, note that while it looks like a word, it is a particle and should not be separated by a space from the noun preceding it.

Examples

Seeing it in action

Here are common ways to use を with everyday verbs.

私(わたし)はコーヒー(こーひー)を飲みます(のみます)。

I drink coffee.

私わたしIコーヒーこーひーcoffeeををobject marker飲みますのみますdrink

本(ほん)を読みます(よみます)。

I read a book.

本ほんbookををobject marker読みますよみますread

りんごを食べます(たべます)。

I eat an apple.

りんごりんごappleををobject marker食べますたべますeat

私はパン【を】食べます。

Hint: Use the object particle.

I eat bread.

Usage

When to use を

The particle を is strictly for direct objects. It is not used for locations or people.

を vs に

本を読みます

Direct object (what is being read)

Reading a book

学校に行きます

Destination (where you are going)

Going to school

Which sentence correctly uses the object particle?

✓ 水を飲みます
水に飲みます
水は飲みます

を marks the direct object (water) of the verb (drink).

Deep dive

Advanced Notes

A few special cases for the object particle.

Movement and を

While を usually marks an object being acted upon, it is also used with verbs of motion like 'walk' or 'cross' to indicate the space being traversed. For example: 道を歩きます (michi o arukimasu - I walk along the road).

Summary

Recap

The particle を is essential for identifying the object of your actions. Remember to place it directly after the object noun and before the verb.

飲みます

のみますverb

to drink

食べます

たべますverb

to eat

読みます

よみますverb

to read

書きます

かきますverb

to write