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Japanese is a post-positional language. This is a fancy way of saying particles come after nouns. They never come before the word. They never stand alone either. They are like loyal puppies. They always follow their owners. Each particle has a specific function. Some mark the topic of your sentence. Others mark the object of your action. Some even show where you are going. You can stack them sometimes too. But for now, let’s keep it simple. You just take a noun and stick a particle on. It is like building with LEGO blocks. You have the brick (the noun). You have the connector (the particle). Then you add the next brick. Most particles are written with Hiragana. A few have special pronunciations. For example, wa is written as ha. And o is written as wo. This confuses everyone at first. Yes, even the people living in Tokyo! Just remember they are markers, not just sounds. They define the relationship between words.

1. 1Identify the noun you want to use.
2. 2Determine the role of that noun.
3. 3Is it the topic? Use wa.
4. 4Is it the object? Use o.
5. 5Attach the particle directly after the noun.
6. 6Finish the phrase with a verb or desu.
7. 7Example: Watashi (Noun) + wa (Topic) + gakusei (Noun) + desu (Verb).
8. 8Result: Watashi wa gakusei desu (I am a student).

You use particles in every single sentence. Imagine you are at a sushi conveyor belt. You want to tell your friend you like tuna. You say Maguro ga suki desu. The ga tells your friend that tuna is the star. If you are ordering at a restaurant, use o. Sushi o kudasai means 'Sushi, please.' The o acts like a finger pointing at the sushi. It tells the waiter exactly what you want to eat. Use ni when you talk about time. 7-ji ni okimasu means 'I wake up at 7.' It marks a specific point on the clock. Use de when you use a tool. Hashi de tabemasu means 'I eat with chopsticks.' It shows the means of your action. Use no to show ownership. Watashi no hon means 'My book.' It links two things together. These scenarios are the bread and butter of daily life. You will use them at work and with friends. They make your Japanese sound organized and clear.

You can actually skip particles in casual talk. If you are with close friends, you might drop them. Instead of Sushi o taberu?, you say Sushi taberu?. It sounds more natural and relaxed. However, do not do this in formal settings. Avoid skipping them in job interviews. Don't skip them when talking to your teacher. If you skip them too much, you sound like a telegram. It can also cause confusion. If you say Watashi ringo, people might understand. But they won't know if you are the apple or eating it. In writing, always use them. They are essential for reading comprehension. Think of skipping particles like wearing pajamas to a party. It's fine with best friends at home. It's a disaster at a black-tie event. Stick to the rules until you feel like a pro.

The biggest headache is wa versus ga. Many people use them interchangeably. But they have different 'vibes.' wa is for old information. ga is for brand new information. Another mistake is using o with arimasu. You cannot say Hon o arimasu. You must say Hon ga arimasu. This is because arimasu shows existence. It doesn't show an action being done to an object. Many learners also forget to use ni for time. They say Kyobi kimasu instead of Kinyobi ni kimasu. Remember that specific times need a marker. Also, don't confuse ni and de for locations. This is a classic trap. ni is for staying still. de is for doing things. If you are sleeping in a hotel, use ni. If you are dancing in a club, use de. It is a small difference that matters a lot. Don't sweat it too much though. Even people who have lived there for years trip up!

Let’s look at ni and e. Both can show direction. You can say Tokyo ni ikimasu. You can also say Tokyo e ikimasu. ni is like a target. You are going to that specific spot. e is more about the journey. It feels a bit more poetic and soft. Most beginners should just stick to ni. It is safer and more common. Now look at ni versus de for places. If you say Gakko ni imasu, you are just at school. If you say Gakko de benkyo shimasu, you are studying there. The de marks the stage for the action. The ni just marks the coordinates on a map. Finally, compare wa and mo. wa sets the topic. mo means 'also.' Watashi wa gakusei desu (I am a student). Tanaka-san mo gakusei desu (Tanaka is also a student). mo replaces wa in this case. It's like a 'buy one, get one free' deal for grammar.