How to Use the Japanese Particle 「を」 in Japanese Grammar

Table of Contents

• Intro / Quick-Start Overview
• The Core Function: Direct Object Marker を
• Route & Path Marker を
• Starting Point: Place of Departure を
• Idiomatic & Set Expressions Using を
• Omission and Word Order Flexibility of を
• Rule Exceptions & Edge Cases
• Similar But Don’t Confuse With…
• Exercise Drill
• Culture & Usage Nuggets
• Summary / Next-Lesson Teaser

Intro / Quick-Start Overview

The particle 「を」 is usually the very first “action marker” English-speaking learners encounter in Japanese. Most dictionaries call it the “direct object particle,” but its real range is wider: marking routes, places of departure, idiomatic triggers, and even vanishing entirely in casual speech. Mastering を unlocks natural-sounding sentences and prevents ga/wo mix-ups that confuse learners for years. This guide breaks down everything you need—from the beginner basics to advanced edge cases—so you can confidently deploy を in any situation.

The Core Function: Direct Object Marker を

As a direct object marker, を tells the listener what receives the action of a transitive verb. Think of it as attaching a little “target” flag to a noun.

Explanation

• Place を immediately after the noun being acted upon.
• Verbs that need a direct object (食べる, 読む, 見る, 作る…) almost always pair with を.
• Word order is flexible: object+を can move, but the verb must stay last in neutral statements.

Example Sentences

• JP: 私わたしは寿司すしを食たべる。
  EN: I eat sushi.
• JP: 兄あにが新聞しんぶんを読よんでいる。
  EN: My older brother is reading the newspaper.
• JP: 来週らいしゅう映画えいがを見みよう。
  EN: Let’s watch a movie next week.
• JP: 彼女かのじょは手紙てがみを書かいた。
  EN: She wrote a letter.
• JP: 子供こどもたちは雪ゆきを楽たのしんでいる。
  EN: The children are enjoying the snow.

Route & Path Marker を

When used with motion verbs, を can mark the path through which something moves rather than the object of the verb.

Explanation

• Common with verbs like 歩く, 走る, 渡る, 通る, 飛ぶ.
• Translates as “through,” “across,” or “along.”
• The noun before を is a location, not an object.

Example Sentences

• JP: 川かわを渡わたって学校がっこうへ行いく。
  EN: I cross the river to go to school.
• JP: 公園こうえんを走はしり回まわった。
  EN: I ran around the park.
• JP: 雲くもの間あいだを飛行機ひこうきが飛とんでいる。
  EN: A plane is flying among the clouds.
• JP: 夜よるの街まちを散歩さんぽした。
  EN: I took a walk through the city at night.
• JP: 列車れっしゃがトンネルを通とおる。
  EN: The train passes through a tunnel.

Starting Point: Place of Departure を

「を」 can specify where an action begins. English often uses “from” in these cases.

Explanation

• Pairs with verbs like 出る, 去る, 発つ, 降りる.
• Focuses on exit rather than pathway.

Example Sentences

• JP: 駅えきを出でて右みぎに曲まがる。
  EN: Leave the station and turn right.
• JP: バスは十分じゅっぷんで港みなとを発はっつ。
  EN: The bus leaves the port in ten minutes.
• JP: 彼かれは会社かいしゃを辞やめた。
  EN: He quit the company.
• JP: 子猫こねこが箱はこを出でた。
  EN: The kitten came out of the box.
• JP: 次つぎの駅えきで電車でんしゃを降おりる。
  EN: I get off the train at the next station.

Idiomatic & Set Expressions Using を

Many frequently used phrases in Japanese embed を in ways that defy literal translation.

Explanation

• The noun+を often functions like an adverbial phrase.
• Memorize them as chunks.

Example Sentences

• JP: 道みちを尋たずねる。
  EN: Ask for directions. (Literally “ask the road.”)
• JP: 心こころを込こめて書かく。
  EN: Write with all one’s heart.
• JP: 息いきを呑のむ景色けしき。
  EN: A breathtaking view. (Literally “swallow one’s breath.”)
• JP: 時間じかんを無駄むだにする。
  EN: Waste time.
• JP: 頭あたまを冷ひやす。
  EN: Cool one’s head (calm down).

Omission and Word Order Flexibility of を

Native speakers regularly drop を, especially in casual speech or when context is obvious.

Explanation

• Omission is more common in spoken language and informal writing (e.g., social media).
• The object itself can move before topic markers or adverbs without changing meaning.
• But in polite speech and exams, include を.

Example Sentences

• JP: 水みず（を）飲のむ？
  EN: Want some water?
• JP: 宿題しゅくだいもう終おわった。
  EN: I already finished my homework. (を omitted)
• JP: ケーキを友達ともだちと昨日きのう食たべた。
  EN: I ate cake with my friends yesterday.
• JP: 昨日きのうケーキを友達ともだちと食たべた。
  EN: Yesterday I ate cake with my friends. (Different word order, same meaning)
• JP: 友達ともだちと昨日きのうケーキ食べた。
  EN: Ate cake with friends yesterday. (を omitted and order shuffled)

Rule Exceptions & Edge Cases

• "Double を" is ungrammatical; only one を per main clause.
• Objects of potential form verbs (食べられる etc.) still take を, not が, despite many textbook oversimplifications.
• Some set phrases drop を in writing: 「山登りする」 vs. full 「山を登る」.
• Honorific verb お～になる keeps を before the root: 「本をお読みになりますか」.
• In classical literature, を (written ヲ) can mark subjects; ignore for modern usage.

Similar But Don’t Confuse With…

Comparison with が (subject) & に／へ (destination)

• が identifies the doer; を marks what is acted on.
  • JP: 犬いぬが猫ねこを追おいかけた。
    EN: A dog chased a cat.
• に／へ indicate where somebody is headed, whereas route を marks the path.
  • JP: 山やまへ行いく。
    EN: I go to the mountain.
  • JP: 山やまを登のぼる。
    EN: I climb (up) the mountain.

Minimal Pair

• JP: 駅えきに出でる。
  EN: Appear at the station.
• JP: 駅えきを出でる。
  EN: Leave the station.

Exercise Drill

Fill in the blanks with the correct particle: を, が, に, へ, or omit entirely (leave blank). Some sentences may need other particles from the list.

1. 本ほん____ 机つくえの上うえに置おく。
2. 橋はし____ 渡わたって公園こうえん____ 行いく。
3. 映画えいが____見みませんか。
4. 空そら____鳥とりが飛とんでいる。
5. 来年らいねん会社かいしゃ____辞やめたい。
6. 海うみ____泳およぎ方かたを教おしえて。

Culture & Usage Nuggets

• In Kansai dialect, を is often pronounced /oː/ rather than /wo/, but spelling never changes.
• Sushi chefs use imperatives without を: 「シャリ〇握って！」. Dropping を adds briskness.
• Manga frequently omits を to save space; reading manga aloud helps you notice context-dependent particles.
• Japanese signage rarely shows を except in formal instructions, tightening sentences for impact.
• Children’s songs purposely over-enunciate を to train particle recognition (e.g., 「どんぐりころころ　どんぶりこ」).

Summary / Next-Lesson Teaser

The particle 「を」 may start as the “direct object marker,” but we’ve seen it power routes, departures, idioms, and even vanish in casual clauses. Mastery of を gives you flexible, natural Japanese and clears up confusion with が, に, and へ. In our next lesson, we’ll dive into another high-impact keyword: the Japanese particle 「で」—how to express locations, means, and materials. Stay tuned!