Kotomora
JLPT N5Particle
Furigana

Subject and identifying marker

marks the person or thing that acts, exists, or has the state being described. It is especially common when that subject is new, unknown, or being identified.

What the marker points out

The noun before is the person or thing directly connected to the action, event, existence, or description. This is natural when you notice something happening or introduce someone or something that has not already been established.

Actions, existence, and states

にわちいさなねこいます。

There is a small cat in the garden.

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The cat is being introduced as something newly noticed.

かぜつよいです。

The wind is strong.

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ドアがきました。

The door opened.

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Asking and identifying who

A

だれましたか。

Who came?

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B

なかさんがました。

Ms. Tanaka came.

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The question asks for the unknown subject, and the answer identifies that subject.

Subject or established topic?

identifies or introduces the person or thing directly connected to what follows. The topic marker instead establishes what the sentence is about; it is written but pronounced . In a question asking who or which one did something, keep the question word and the direct identifying answer marked with ; changing it to the topic marker changes the job of the phrase.

More examples

ゆきっています。

It is snowing.

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えきまえあたらしいみせできました。

A new shop opened in front of the station.

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とりうえにいます。

There is a bird in the tree.

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どのバスがくうこうきますか。

Which bus goes to the airport?

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このバスがくうこうきます。

This bus goes to the airport.

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でんえました。

The light went out.

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