Japanese Particle を (wo/o)
Master the Object Marker with Comprehensive Examples
Table of Contents
1. Basic Concept of を (wo/o)
を (wo/o) is a Japanese particle that marks the direct object of a sentence. It shows what is being acted upon by the verb.
Think of を as marking “what” or “who” receives the action of the verb. It connects the object directly to the action being performed.
2. Pronunciation Rule
| Written Form | Pronunciation | Usage | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| を | wo | Traditional pronunciation | ほん を よみます (hon wo yomimasu) |
| を | o | Modern pronunciation (most common) | ほん を よみます (hon o yomimasu) |
3. Basic Usage Patterns
Pattern 1: [Object] を [Action Verb]
わたし は ほん を よみます。
Watashi wa hon o yomimasu.
I read a book.
Pattern 2: [Person] を [Emotion/Meeting Verb]
わたし は ともだち を まちます。
Watashi wa tomodachi o machimasu.
I wait for a friend.
4. Comprehensive Example Sentences
| Japanese (Hiragana) | Romaji | English Translation | Object |
|---|---|---|---|
| わたし は りんご を たべます。 | Watashi wa ringo o tabemasu. | I eat an apple. | りんご (apple) |
| がくせい は にほんご を べんきょうします。 | Gakusei wa Nihongo o benkyou shimasu. | The student studies Japanese. | にほんご (Japanese) |
| はは は てがみ を かきます。 | Haha wa tegami o kakimasu. | Mother writes a letter. | てがみ (letter) |
| こども は テレビ を みます。 | Kodomo wa terebi o mimasu. | The child watches TV. | テレビ (TV) |
| せんせい は しつもん を ききます。 | Sensei wa shitsumon o kikimasu. | The teacher asks a question. | しつもん (question) |
| わたし は おんがく を ききます。 | Watashi wa ongaku o kikimasu. | I listen to music. | おんがく (music) |
| ちち は しんぶん を よみます。 | Chichi wa shinbun o yomimasu. | Father reads a newspaper. | しんぶん (newspaper) |
| わたし は コーヒー を のみます。 | Watashi wa koohii o nomimasu. | I drink coffee. | コーヒー (coffee) |
| がくせい は しゅくだい を します。 | Gakusei wa shukudai o shimasu. | The student does homework. | しゅくだい (homework) |
| わたし は えいが を みます。 | Watashi wa eiga o mimasu. | I watch a movie. | えいが (movie) |
5. Common Verbs That Use を
| Verb (Japanese) | Romaji | English | Example with を |
|---|---|---|---|
| たべます | tabemasu | eat | ごはん を たべます |
| のみます | nomimasu | drink | みず を のみます |
| よみます | yomimasu | read | ほん を よみます |
| かきます | kakimasu | write | じ を かきます |
| ききます | kikimasu | listen/ask | おんがく を ききます |
| みます | mimasu | see/watch | えいが を みます |
| かいます | kaimasu | buy | くつ を かいます |
| つくります | tsukurimasu | make | りょうり を つくります |
6. を vs Other Particles – The Key Differences
を marks the direct object – what receives the action
が marks the subject – who/what performs the action
に marks the destination/time – where/when something happens
で marks the location of action – where the action takes place
| Particle | Function | Example | Translation | Usage Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| を | Direct object | わたし は ほん を よみます。 Watashi wa hon o yomimasu. | I read a book. | Book receives the action of reading |
| が | Subject marker | ともだち が きます。 Tomodachi ga kimasu. | A friend comes. | Friend performs the action |
| に | Destination | がっこう に いきます。 Gakkou ni ikimasu. | Go to school. | School is the destination |
| で | Location of action | としょかん で べんきょうします。 Toshokan de benkyou shimasu. | Study at the library. | Library is where the studying happens |
7. Advanced Usage Patterns
Movement Through Places
| Japanese | Romaji | English | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| みち を あるきます。 | Michi o arukimasu. | Walk along the road. | Movement through a path |
| そら を とびます。 | Sora o tobimasu. | Fly through the sky. | Movement through space |
| はし を わたります。 | Hashi o watarimasu. | Cross the bridge. | Movement across/over |
Abstract Objects
わたし は ゆめ を みます。
Watashi wa yume o mimasu.
I have a dream. / I dream.
8. Common Mistakes to Avoid
| Incorrect | Correct | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| わたし は がっこう を いきます。 | わたし は がっこう に いきます。 | Use に for destinations, not を |
| ほん が よみます。 | ほん を よみます。 | Books are read (object), not reading (subject) |
| わたし を がくせい です。 | わたし は がくせい です。 | Use は for topic/subject in です sentences |
| としょかん を べんきょうします。 | としょかん で べんきょうします。 | Use で for location of action, not を |
| Missing を particle | りんご を たべます。 | Always use を to mark direct objects |
Congratulations!
You’ve completed the comprehensive guide to the Japanese particle を (wo/o). Practice with different verbs and objects to master this essential grammar point!
を (wo/o) Particle Quiz
Test Your Knowledge of the Japanese Object Marker
Exercise 1: Choose the correct particle
How do you say “I read a book”?
Explanation: を marks the direct object – the book receives the action of reading.
Exercise 2: Pronunciation
How is the particle を usually pronounced in modern Japanese?
Explanation: Although written as を (wo), it’s usually pronounced as “o” in modern Japanese.
Exercise 3: Complete the sentence
Complete: “I eat an apple.” わたし は りんご ___ たべます。
Explanation: を marks the apple as the direct object being eaten.
Exercise 4: Translation
What does “こども は テレビ を みます” mean?
Explanation: みます means “to see/watch” and テレビ を marks TV as the object being watched.
Exercise 5: を vs に
Which is correct for “I go to school”?
Explanation: Use に for destinations, not を. を is for direct objects, not places you go to.
Exercise 6: Movement through places
Complete: “Walk along the road.” みち ___ あるきます。
Explanation: を can mark the path or route of movement – walking through/along the road.
Exercise 7: Common Verbs
Which verb commonly uses を?
Explanation: ききます takes を – you listen TO something or ask something. Existence verbs (います/あります) use が.
Exercise 8: Context Understanding
What does を mark in a sentence?
Explanation: を marks what is being acted upon by the verb – the direct object.
Exercise 9: Advanced Usage
Complete: “I have a dream.” わたし は ゆめ ___ みます。
Explanation: Even abstract objects like dreams use を when they’re the direct object of the verb.
Exercise 10: Common Mistake
Which sentence is WRONG?
Explanation: You study AT the library (で), not study the library itself (を). Correct: としょかん で べんきょうします
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