はas for; the topic marker
は names what you are talking about, like "as for…". The news comes after it.
this one, not that one
I drink coffee, but I do not drink tea.
How to form it
Noun + は
Written は but pronounced "wa".
With other particles
が・を → は に → には で → では
は takes the place of が and を. After other particles it is added on: とは, からは and までは too.
The idea
は works like "as for…" or "speaking of…". In front of it goes something the other person can already place: you, them, the thing in front of you, today, your father, cats in general. It doesn't have to have come up before. After it goes the news: what you want to say or ask about it.
A person or a thing
This is who or what I am talking about.
I am an office worker.
A time or a place
This is when or where I am talking about.
The library is closed on Sundays.
Two things side by side
This one, as opposed to that one.
This café is quiet, but the place next door is lively.
My father is a doctor.
The first time you mention him, and still は. They know who you mean.
私は…です looks like "I am…", but は doesn't mean "is".
Coffee for me.
Ordering in a café. "As for me, coffee", not "I am coffee".
The first things you'll say and hear
Your first questions nearly all have one shape: the thing you are asking about, は, then the question.
〜はどこですかwhere is …?
Excuse me, where is the restroom?
〜は？and …? what about …?
What is your name?
The rest of the question goes unsaid. Talking to Tanaka, 田中さんは？ is the natural way to say "And you?".
こんにちはhello
Hello.
Once the start of a longer sentence, "as for today…". That is why it is spelled with は, and こんばんは too.
Once it is clear, it goes unsaid
English repeats "I" and "it" in every sentence. Japanese names what it is talking about once, and not at all when that is obvious.
Is this movie long?
No, it is about ninety minutes.
B doesn't say この映画は again.
English speakers tend to open every sentence with 私は. Each one says "as for me" again, as if you were comparing yourself with someone else.
Sounds odd: 私は
I am Maria. I am from Canada. I am a student.
Correct, but heavy.
I am Maria. I am from Canada. I am a student.
How people introduce themselves. It is clear who they are talking about.
This one, not that one
Naming one thing sets it apart a little from the others. With two things side by side, that becomes the whole point.
My older sister goes by train, but my older brother goes by car.
The が in the middle is a different word. It means "but".
I am busy in the morning, but free in the evening.
I study at the library, but not at home.
The second half can go unsaid. は still points at it.
Do you eat both vegetables and meat?
I do eat vegetables.
B says yes to vegetables and leaves A to work out the rest.
Saying no to one thing sets it apart from the things you say yes to. So in a "no" answer, the thing often takes は where the question had を or が.
Do you drink alcohol?
No, I don't drink alcohol.
を in the question, は in the answer. Not alcohol, whatever else you drink.
I don't eat meat.
Two は. The first is who you are talking about. The second sets meat apart.
は and が
Both in one sentence
A sentence often has both. は says what you are talking about. Then が marks who did it, what you like, or which part you mean.
X は + Y が + …
I bought this book yesterday.
"As for this book, I bought it yesterday."
I like Korean food.
My younger sister has long hair.
Which one?
は and が can both mark the one who does something. After は, the news is what follows. With が, the word in front is news.
Ms. Tanaka came.
Answers "What about Tanaka?" The news is that she came.
Ms. Tanaka came.
Answers "Who came?" The news is Tanaka.
English makes this difference with the voice, leaning on "came" or on "Tanaka". Japanese makes it with the particle.
A question word (だれ, 何, どれ) is the thing you don't know, so it can't be what you are talking about. It is never followed by は: だれが, どれが, 何が.
Not said: だれは
(Who came?)
だれが来ましたか. A question word after は is fine: これは何ですか.
Close neighbours
がN5
The word in front of it is news to the person listening: the answer to "who?", or something you have just noticed.
A dog is barking outside.
もN5
"Too". It takes the place of は when the same thing is true of one more.
My younger brother is a student too.
Check yourself
1Which one fits?
明日、
Choose an answer to see why.
2Someone asks if you eat fish and meat, and you say this. What have you told them?
魚は
Choose an answer to see why.
3Someone asks if you are a student. Which answer sounds natural?
Choose an answer to see why.
More detail
A contrast you didn't mean
Because a lone は hints at "but…", it can say more than you intended.
Sounds odd: 今日は
You look nice today.
It can come out as "today, for once". 今日もきれいですね is safer.
Among friends
In casual talk は often drops out, with a short pause in its place.
This is good, isn't it?
More sentences
The meeting starts at three.
My older sister took that photograph.
There is a business trip next week.
In Japan, the school year begins in April.
I bought bread, but I did not buy milk.
I can meet on Sunday, but not on Saturday.
I spoke with Mr. Tanaka, but I have not spoken with Mr. Yamada yet.