What is the difference between は (wa) and が (ga) in Japanese?

は marks the topic (what the sentence is about — usually known information). が marks the grammatical subject (who performs the action — often new information). は implies contrast; が is neutral. Question words always take が. Desire/ability verbs (好き, できる, わかる) require が for their object.

What does しか mean in Japanese?

しか means "only" but always requires a negative predicate. しか〜ない = "nothing but X / only X". Example: 100円しかない = I only have 100 yen (lit. I don't have anything but 100 yen). Compare with だけ, which can be used with positive predicates.

Grammar · All LevelsMarch 2026

Japanese Particles: The Complete Reference Guide

Q: When do I use に vs で for location?

に marks where something exists (with いる/ある) and the direction of movement. で marks where an action takes place. 図書館にいる (exists in library) vs 図書館で勉強する (study at library). に = static existence or destination; で = action location.

Particles are the backbone of Japanese grammar. Every noun in a sentence needs one to tell you what role it plays. Here are all the major particles with clear explanations and examples.

All Major Japanese Particles at a Glance

Particle	Romaji	Role	Example	English	JLPT
は	wa	Topic marker	私は学生です	I am a student (topic = me)	N5
が	ga	Subject marker	猫が寝ている	The cat is sleeping (subject = cat)	N5
を	wo	Direct object	りんごを食べた	I ate an apple	N5
に	ni	Location (existence) / Direction / Time	駅に行く / 7時に起きる	Go to station / Wake up at 7	N5
で	de	Action location / Means / Reason	駅で待つ / 電車で行く	Wait at station / Go by train	N5
へ	e	Direction (toward)	学校へ行く	Go toward school	N5
と	to	And (exhaustive) / With / Quotation	友達と行く	Go with a friend	N5
も	mo	Also / Too / Even	私も行く	I'm going too	N5
の	no	Possessive / Noun modifier / Nominaliser	私の本	My book	N5
か	ka	Question marker / Or	行きますか？	Will you go?	N5
から	kara	From / Because (after plain form)	東京から来た	Came from Tokyo	N5
まで	made	Until / Up to	6時まで働く	Work until 6	N5
より	yori	Than (comparison baseline)	電車よりバスが好き	Like buses more than trains	N4
だけ	dake	Only / Just (positive/negative)	一つだけ食べた	I ate just one	N4
しか	shika	Only (negative predicate required)	100円しかない	I only have 100 yen	N4
でも	demo	Even / Or something / But (conjunction)	コーヒーでも飲む？	Want to grab a coffee or something?	N4
ね	ne	Sentence-final: seeking agreement / softening	いい天気ですね	Nice weather, isn't it?	N5
よ	yo	Sentence-final: informing / asserting	電車が来たよ	The train is here! (I'm telling you)	N5

は vs が — The Most Important Distinction

No grammar point causes more confusion for learners. The key mental model:

は (topic): “Speaking of X...” — sets the frame. Often known information. Can imply contrast.
が (subject): “X is the one who...” — identifies the agent. Often new information.

象は鼻が長い。ぞうははながながい。As for elephants, their noses are long. (は = topic; が = subject of the property)

誰が来た？ — 田中さんが来た。Who came? — Tanaka came. (question word + answer both take が)

私は魚が好きです。I like fish. (私は = topic; 魚が = object of 好き — preference verbs require が)

Rule: 好き、嫌い、わかる、できる、ほしい — all take が for their object, not を.

に vs で — Location Particles

Particle	Use	Verbs it pairs with	Example
に	Static existence	いる, ある	公園に犬がいる (dog exists in park)
に	Movement destination	行く, 来る, 帰る	東京に行く (go TO Tokyo)
に	Point in time	any verb	3時に始まる (starts AT 3)
で	Action location	any action verb	公園で遊ぶ (play IN the park)
で	Means / tool	any verb	電車で行く (go BY train)
で	Scope / range	any verb	クラスで一番 (best IN the class)

Memory trick

に = the place IS something / something IS there. で = something HAPPENS there. “The cat IS in the garden” → 庭に猫がいる. “The cat PLAYS in the garden” → 庭で猫が遊ぶ.

だけ vs しか — “Only”

Both mean “only” but they work differently:

一つだけ食べた。(neutral)I ate only one. (just one, that's all — no strong implication)

一つしか食べなかった。(implies disappointment/insufficiency)I only ate one. (not enough — nuance of "merely")

Rule: しか ALWAYS requires a negative predicate (〜ない). だけ works with positive or negative.

Sentence-Final Particles: ね and よ

These tiny particles at the end of sentences carry a lot of social weight:

Particle	Function	Example
ね	Seeking agreement, softening, “right?”	おいしいですね (delicious, isn't it?)
よ	Asserting new information, “I'm telling you”	もう終わったよ (it's already finished — I'm informing you)
よね	Seeking confirmation of something you believe is true	明日休みだよね？(Tomorrow's a holiday, right?)
な	Masculine, self-directed, contemplative (casual)	いい天気だな (nice weather, hm)
わ	Soft assertion (female speech in Tokyo; casual in Kansai)	そうだわ (that's right)

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FAQ

What is the difference between は (wa) and が (ga)?

は marks the topic (sentence frame, often known info, can imply contrast). が marks the grammatical subject (agent, often new info). Question words always take が. Desire/ability verbs (好き, できる, わかる) require が for their object.

When do I use に vs で for location?

に = where something exists (いる/ある) or movement destination. で = where an action takes place or the means used. 図書館にいる (exist at library) vs 図書館で勉強する (study at library).

What does しか mean?

しか means “only” but always requires a negative predicate. しか〜ない = nothing but / only (with nuance of insufficiency). Compare with だけ (neutral “only”, can be positive or negative).