Grammar Point

indicates sentence subject (occasionally object)


Subject Marker

The particle is used to mark the subject of a sentence, specifically identifying who or what performs an action or exists in a state. It is often used when introducing new information or when the subject needs to be specifically identified among other possibilities.

Noun +

Used with nouns to indicate that the noun is the one performing the action or exists in the described state.


Rain is falling.

The cat is here.

Note

While は is used to mark the topic of a sentence (what the sentence is about), is used to mark the grammatical subject. In many cases, is used to introduce a subject for the first time in a conversation. Additionally, some verbs and adjectives related to ability, desire, or perception (like わかる, ほしい, or すき) use to mark the object of the emotion or state rather than the direct object particle を.



Radicals of radicals