〜を

〜を is a particle that functions as a object marker in Japanese sentences. Particles are the building blocks of Japanese grammar — small words that define the grammatical relationship between other words. Mastering 〜を is essential for constructing correct and natural-sounding sentences.

This is a foundational pattern that you will use from day one of your Japanese studies.

When to Use#

• Marking the direct object of an action: りんごを食べる (eat an apple)
• Indicating a path or route: 公園を歩く (walk through the park)
• Marking the point of departure: バスを降りる (get off the bus)

When NOT to Use#

• In very formal writing where a more sophisticated expression would be expected

Example Sentences#

• 良い一日を。 — Have a nice day!
• 漢字を習います。 — I learn kanji.
• 切符を買いました。 — I bought a ticket.

Practice#

Try reading these sentences aloud, then check the translation and vocabulary:

Common Mistakes#

1. Omitting 〜を in contexts where it's required — While particles can sometimes be dropped in very casual speech, omitting 〜を in the wrong context changes the meaning or sounds ungrammatical.