Can someone plz explain partials for me because I only know は - Feed Post by Myles223
Can someone plz explain partials for me because I only know は
posted by Myles223
Comments 5
There are many particles. I recommend you trying out Duolingo, and try to complete the full Japanese course. It won't make you fluent at all, but it exposes you to sentences, and makes you try to make them. Plus, with the comment function, you can read other ppl's doubts and struggles (that may be similar to yours), and learn things that Duolingo itself do not teach. I got a general knowledge about particles there without actually specifically studying them.
These were the particles i could remember from the top of my head, and what i understand of them. There might be more of them though. And my understanding is very limited, it might be wrong, and almost certainly incomplete(they probably have some more other uses than the listed here). It would be nice if other people could also provide feedback on what i said here. I recommend you searching more on some actually reliable source later. But here's a fast introduction for you, with my general knowledge about some basic particles:
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は defines the topic of the phrase. (Who the phrase's main subject is).
Ex.:
私はルドヴィクスです。
I (topic) am Ludovicus.
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が is used to talk about something, and kinda of "link" the action/verb to the word/phrase before it.
Ex.:
僕は君が知りません
I(topic) don't know you(the thing that i don't know).
To make the particles a little bit more clear to you, it could be translated/understood like this as well:
"About me¹ (topic), in relation to you² (the thing the verb talks about), i do not know³ [you]."
¹If you change what's behind は you change what's there.
²If you change what's behind が you change what's there.
³If you change the verb(after が in this case) you change what's there.
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の is a possessive particle.
AのB. B belongs to A
Ex.:
それは私の漫画です。
That(topic) is my[watashi+no] manga.
彼のパソコンは古いです。
His[kare+no] computer (topic) is old.
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に and へ are somewhat similar, and i see it often used when referring to places (where you go/are/etc). They "link" the verb and the place you are going to. I believe に more clearly states where you are going, while へ is more unclear.
Ex.:
学校に行きます。
I (unclear topic, depends on the context) will (unclear tense, could be present, depends on context) go to school.
学校へ行きます。
I (unclear topic, depends on the context) will (unclear tense, could be present, depends on context) go towards (in the general direction??) the school.
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を is normally used for actions (i think). "Links" the action with something?
Ex.:
歌を歌う。
I(unclear, topic/subject) sing(verb) a song(the thing you sing).
火曜日は仕事をします。
I(unclear, depends on context) work on Tuesday(topic).
"します" means that you do something, "を" links the verb "します" to the thing that you do ["仕事" (work)], which is a noun.
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と usually means "and", or used to quote something (such as your own thoughts).
Ex.:
アニメと漫画が好きです！
I(unclear topic) like anime and manga.
日本語は面白いと思います。
I (unclear) think Japanese(topic) is interesting.
//*or*//
"Japanese is interesting", are my thoughts. //*or*// ..., is what i think.
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Wow you explained all of those particle better than any YouTube video, thanks
Well, about some of the particles:
に is an indicator of place and not necessary of destiny. Example:
本は上のつくえにある --> The book is *on* top of the table.
About the example with school from Ludovicus, I thin is more correct the use of the へ than に.
I usually translate "ni" as "in" or "on". This particle is similar to another particle: で, and in most os cases can be exanged. More than "destiny" に indicates what is in the place, or something related to the place (or time).
手帳は学校に忘れた--> I forgot the notebook *in* the school.
へ this is the particle that says the place of destiny or direction:
僕が日本へ行きたい --> I want to go *to* Japan.
日本へようこそ！--> Welcome *to* Japan!
学校へ行きます-->I go *to* school.
右へ動けてください--> Please, ｍove *to* the right
へ: pronounced "e" and not "he".
And と also is "with".
ぼくがともだちと日本へ行くつもりです--> I *with* my friend are intented to go to Japan.
I'm not gonna explain all of the particles on this thread to you. Ludovicus assumption is correct, the explanations on here are very simplistic and lack a lot of nuance. And to give each particle the detail and attention it deserves would be pages on pages of typing which I'm not going to do xD
So instead i'd advice you to take a look at: https://bunpro.jp
It has a decent collection of grammar points and still growing. for each grammatical point they link to various other places explaining some of the details and nuance of it. You can practice grammar over there in somewhat the same way you practice vocab over here.
Furthermore, if there is a bit of nuance or a use case you don't get chances are someone got confused by it before you and has asked on https://japanese.stackexchange.com/ if not, you can always ask yourself of course
Wikipedia's page for "Japanese particles" sums up virtually all the particles very well. ^^
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_particles
