は

は

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 100

Meanings

1

topic marker

Marks the topic of the sentence. Pronounced わ.

私わたしは学がく生せいです。
I am a student.

2

contrast marker

Indicates contrast with another option, stated or implied. Pronounced わ.

犬いぬは好すきですが、猫ねこは嫌きらいです。
I like dogs, but I don't like cats.

3

emphasis marker

Adds emphasis to the preceding word. Pronounced わ.

そんなことはない。
That is not the case (emphatic).

See all 413,007 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈物もの〉は〈事こと〉as for [topic], [comment]
この本ほんは面おも白しろい。
As for this book, it's interesting.
〈物もの〉は〜が、〈物もの〉は〜[thing A] is..., but [thing B] is... (contrast)
肉にくは好すきだが、魚さかなは好すきじゃない。
I like meat, but I don't like fish.
〈動どう詞し〉ては〜emphatic negative condition (used with ない forms)
諦あきらめてはいけない。
You mustn't give up.

Grammar

See all 6 grammar points ›

Related words

って
は is the standard topic marker, while って can casually replace it to mark a topic with a more conversational or emphatic feel.

Don't confuse with

がN5sense 1
は marks the topic or known information the sentence is about, while が marks the grammatical subject and often introduces new information.
も sense 2
は often sets up a contrast between two things, whereas も says the same thing applies equally, without contrast.
には
は is the general topic/contrast particle used after nouns and phrases, whereas には is specifically は attached to に, keeping a locational, temporal, or purposive meaning while adding topic or contrast.

Written forms

はUsage100%
Kana particle; pronounced わ in modern Japanese.
ハUsage<1%

Etymology

Derived from the Old Japanese topic particle は, with the pronunciation shift from /pa/ to /wa/ occurring in the Early Middle Japanese period.