JLPT N5 Particles List: Meanings, Uses, and Example Sentences
Particles define the role of every word in a Japanese sentence. Getting them right is the single biggest lever in N5 grammar accuracy.
There are 11 core JLPT N5 particles, but beginners should first lock in the six that shape most sentences: は, が, を, に, で, and の. After that, drill the contrast pairs は vs が, に vs で, and に vs へ with short example sentences until topic, subject, destination, and action-place choices feel automatic.
This page covers: a full 11-particle reference table with example sentences, dedicated contrast sections for the three hardest pairs, common errors with corrections, and a detailed FAQ covering pronunciation and usage.
After memorizing this table, practice with the N5 grammar guide to see particles inside full grammar patterns.
は vs が: The Most Important Contrast
This pair confuses beginners more than any other. Both mark the grammatical subject, but they carry different information about what the sentence is focusing on.
The core rule
は marks the topic — something already introduced or known. The sentence is "about" this noun. Often translates as "as for X" or "speaking of X."
が marks the subject with new or specific information. The sentence is answering an implicit "who?" or "what?" question, or drawing attention to something just noticed.
Contrast sentences
Sentence
Natural English
Why this particle
私は学生です。
I am a student.
Introducing yourself — "I" is the established topic of the conversation.
私が学生です。
I am the one who is a student.
Identifying yourself among several people — emphasis on "me, not you."
猫は魚を食べます。
Cats eat fish. (general fact)
Making a general statement about cats as a category.
猫が魚を食べています。
The cat is eating fish! (look!)
Noticing something specific right now — the cat just caught your attention.
誰が来ましたか？ → 田中さんが来ました。
Who came? → Tanaka came.
が answers "who?" questions — it identifies the specific subject.
Practical N5 rule
When in doubt at N5 level: use は for general statements, introductions, and anything the sentence is broadly about. Use が when you are answering a "who/what" question, or when something specific just appeared or happened. This covers 90% of N5 test cases.
に vs で: The Location Contrast
This is the most common single-particle error in N5 writing sections. Both relate to place, but their use is completely different.
The core rule
に marks a destination (where you move TO) or an existence location (where something IS or is placed).
で marks the location where an action actively takes place. There is ongoing activity at this place.
Contrast sentences
Sentence
Translation
Correct particle and why
図書館に行きます。
I am going to the library.
に — library is the destination (movement toward it).
図書館で勉強します。
I study at the library.
で — the library is where the action of studying happens.
机の上に本があります。
There is a book on the desk.
に — marks where something exists (ある/いる patterns always use に).
公園で走ります。
I run in the park.
で — the park is the location of the running action.
❌ 図書館に勉強します。
–
Wrong — studying is an action happening at a place, not movement toward it. Use で.
Quick memory test
Ask yourself: "Am I moving TO this place (destination), or IS something there (existence), or am I DOING something there (action)?" Destination and existence → に. Active doing → で.
に vs へ: Both Mark Direction — What is the Difference?
For N5 purposes, に and へ are mostly interchangeable when marking movement destinations. The distinction matters at higher levels.
When they overlap (N5 level)
With に
With へ
Meaning
東京に行きます。
東京へ行きます。
I am going to Tokyo. (Both are correct.)
日本に来ました。
日本へ来ました。
I came to Japan. (Both are correct.)
Where only に works
Time expressions:7時に起きます。 (I wake at 7.) — へ cannot mark time.
Existence (ある/いる):駅にいます。 (I am at the station.) — へ cannot mark existence location.
Purpose (〜に行く):買い物に行きます。 (I go to shop.) — へ cannot mark purpose.
Practical summary: learn に thoroughly because it covers more uses. Use へ only with movement verbs (行く, 来る, 帰る) when you want to emphasize the direction, not the endpoint.
Common Particle Errors and Corrections
Mistakes to eliminate before the N5 test
Using で for destinations.❌ 学校で行きます → ✓ 学校に行きます。 Going TO somewhere always needs に.
Using に for action locations.❌ レストランに食べます → ✓ レストランで食べます。 Eating is an action at the restaurant, not movement toward it.
Dropping particles in writing. Casual speech drops を and は, but written and test Japanese requires them. Always write full particles in practice.
Using も where は is needed.も means "also." If you haven't established a first item, も has nothing to add to. Start with は, then switch to も for additional items.
Confusing から and まで direction.から = from (start point). まで = until/up to (end point). They pair naturally: 9時から5時まで働きます。 (I work from 9 to 5.)
FAQ
Which particles should I learn first for JLPT N5?
Start with the six highest-frequency particles: は (topic), が (subject), を (object), に (time and destination), で (action location), and の (possession). These six appear in almost every N5 sentence. Learn one example per particle, then immediately practice the は vs が and に vs で contrast pairs. Add から, まで, と, も, and へ in a second pass.
What is the difference between は and が?
は marks the topic — what the sentence is generally about. が marks the subject with emphasis or new information. 私は学生です (I am a student — introducing yourself) vs 私が学生です (I am the one who is a student — identifying who among several people). Use は for general statements; use が when answering "who?" questions or highlighting something you just noticed.
When do I use に and when do I use で?
Use に for destinations (where you go TO) and existence locations (where something IS). Use で for the location where an action actively takes place. The classic error: 図書館に勉強します is wrong — studying is an action at that location, which needs で: 図書館で勉強します. But 図書館に行きます (going TO the library) is correct.
How is は pronounced as a particle?
As a particle, は is always pronounced "wa" — not "ha." The same pronunciation shift applies to へ (pronounced "e" not "he" as a particle) and を (pronounced "o" not "wo" in modern standard Japanese). These are fixed pronunciation rules, not exceptions: the particle reading is always the irregular one.
What does the particle の do?
の links two nouns, showing possession or category: 私の本 (my book — possession), 日本語の本 (a Japanese-language book — category). の can also nominalize verbs at higher levels: 走るのが好きです (I like running). At N5, focus on possession and noun-modification uses — they cover all N5 test content.
Can you drop particles in spoken Japanese?
Yes — native speakers regularly drop を and は in casual speech. 本、読んだ instead of 本を読んだ is natural conversation. However, dropping particles in JLPT writing questions is marked wrong. For N5 study, always write full particles in practice sentences and treat dropped particles as a spoken convention you understand but do not yet use.
Next Step in YoruLearn
Test particles under timed conditions
After drilling these particles, the next skill is choosing the right one under exam timing pressure. The N5 practice test includes particle-fill questions modeled on real JLPT format.
Choose the particle before opening each answer. This quick check is designed to expose the high-value contrasts from the chart above.
わたし___学生です。
は — it marks わたし as the topic.
コーヒー___飲みます。
を — coffee is the direct object of 飲みます.
七時___起きます。
に — a specific clock time takes に.
図書館___勉強します。
で — an action happens at the library.
日本___行きます。
に or へ — both mark a destination; へ emphasizes direction.
これはわたし___本です。
の — it links the possessor to the noun.
だれ___来ますか。
が — it asks who is the subject of the action.
友だち___映画を見ます。
と — it means “with” a friend.
パン___ごはんを食べます。
と — it connects two nouns with “and.”
日曜日___学校へ行きません。
Usually no particle — relative time words such as days of the week can often stand alone in this basic pattern.
Sources and Editorial Notes
The particle explanations focus on beginner contrast patterns rather than trying to cover every advanced exception. Each example is written as a short, practical study sentence.
