を

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 100

Meanings

particle

direct object marker

Marks the direct object of a transitive verb. The most basic and frequent use of を.

本ほんを読よむ。
I read a book.

particle

subject of causative

Marks the person made to do something in causative constructions. The causer is marked by が or は.

母ははは子こ供どもを買かい物ものに行いかせた。
The mother made her child go shopping.

particle

through; along; across

Marks a place through which movement occurs, often with motion verbs like 歩く, 走る, 飛ぶ, 通る.

公こう園えんを散さん歩ぽする。
I take a walk in the park.

particle

for (a period of time)

Marks a time span during which an action occurs, often with verbs like 過ごす, 暮らす, 生きる. Not used for a specific point in time.

夏なつ休やすみを海かい外がいで過すごした。
I spent the summer vacation abroad.

particle

from; out of

Marks a point of departure or separation, used with verbs like 出る, 降りる, 離れる, 卒業する.

電でん車しゃを降おりる。
I get off the train.

particle

object of desire/like/hate

Marks the object of emotions or desires with adjectives like 好き, 嫌い, 欲しい, and verbs like 望む. In modern Japanese, が is also common for these, but を is used especially when the object is clearly acted upon or in subordinate clauses.

Usage patterns· 8

〈物もの〉を欲ほしいto want a thing (object of desire)
新あたらしい靴くつを欲ほしいと思おもっている。
I've been wanting a new pair of shoes.
〈人ひと〉を〈動どう詞し〉せるto make/let someone do something (causative)
先せん生せいは生せい徒とを廊ろう下かに立たたせた。
The teacher made the student stand in the hallway.
〈場ば所しょ〉を歩あるくto walk along/through a place
毎まい晩ばん、公こう園えんを歩あるいています。
I walk through the park every evening.
〈場ば所しょ〉を出でるto leave/exit a place
朝あさ七しち時じに家いえを出でた。
I left home at seven in the morning.
〈物もの〉を〈動どう詞し〉to do something to a thing (direct object)
毎まい朝あさコーヒーを飲のみます。
I drink coffee every morning.

Show 3 more

〈時とき〉を過すごすto spend a period of time (doing something)
夏なつ休やすみを家か族ぞくと過すごした。
I spent the summer vacation with my family.
〈場ば所しょ〉を通とおるto pass through/along a place
この道みちを通とおると駅えきに着つきます。
If you go along this road, you'll reach the station.
〈場ば所しょ〉を卒そつ業ぎょうするto graduate from a place
去きょ年ねん、大だい学がくを卒そつ業ぎょうした。
I graduated from university last year.

Grammar

Don't confuse with

がN5
が marks the subject or the object of potential/desire predicates, while を marks the direct object of transitive verbs, a path, or a departure point—learners often mix them up with 好き/欲しい and with motion verbs.
に
に marks a destination or point of contact (乗る, 着く) while を marks the space traversed or the point of departure with the same kind of motion verb (通る, 出る), so learners easily swap them.

Written forms

をUsage100%
Kana-only particle; no kanji form exists.
ヲUsage<1%

Etymology

The particle を derives from Old Japanese particle を, which originally marked an exclamatory or emphatic object. Its modern use as a direct object marker developed early and has remained stable.

を

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 100

Meanings

particle

direct object marker

Marks the direct object of a transitive verb. The most basic and frequent use of を.

本ほんを読よむ。
I read a book.

particle

subject of causative

Marks the person made to do something in causative constructions. The causer is marked by が or は.

母ははは子こ供どもを買かい物ものに行いかせた。
The mother made her child go shopping.

particle

through; along; across

Marks a place through which movement occurs, often with motion verbs like 歩く, 走る, 飛ぶ, 通る.

公こう園えんを散さん歩ぽする。
I take a walk in the park.

particle

for (a period of time)

Marks a time span during which an action occurs, often with verbs like 過ごす, 暮らす, 生きる. Not used for a specific point in time.

夏なつ休やすみを海かい外がいで過すごした。
I spent the summer vacation abroad.

particle

from; out of

Marks a point of departure or separation, used with verbs like 出る, 降りる, 離れる, 卒業する.

電でん車しゃを降おりる。
I get off the train.

particle

object of desire/like/hate

Usage patterns· 8

〈物もの〉を欲ほしいto want a thing (object of desire)
新あたらしい靴くつを欲ほしいと思おもっている。
I've been wanting a new pair of shoes.
〈人ひと〉を〈動どう詞し〉せるto make/let someone do something (causative)
先せん生せいは生せい徒とを廊ろう下かに立たたせた。
The teacher made the student stand in the hallway.
〈場ば所しょ〉を歩あるくto walk along/through a place
毎まい晩ばん、公こう園えんを歩あるいています。
I walk through the park every evening.
〈場ば所しょ〉を出でるto leave/exit a place
朝あさ七しち時じに家いえを出でた。
I left home at seven in the morning.
〈物もの〉を〈動どう詞し〉to do something to a thing (direct object)
毎まい朝あさコーヒーを飲のみます。
I drink coffee every morning.

Show 3 more

〈時とき〉を過すごすto spend a period of time (doing something)
夏なつ休やすみを家か族ぞくと過すごした。
I spent the summer vacation with my family.
〈場ば所しょ〉を通とおるto pass through/along a place
この道みちを通とおると駅えきに着つきます。
If you go along this road, you'll reach the station.
〈場ば所しょ〉を卒そつ業ぎょうするto graduate from a place
去きょ年ねん、大だい学がくを卒そつ業ぎょうした。
I graduated from university last year.

Grammar

Don't confuse with

がN5
が marks the subject or the object of potential/desire predicates, while を marks the direct object of transitive verbs, a path, or a departure point—learners often mix them up with 好き/欲しい and with motion verbs.
に
に marks a destination or point of contact (乗る, 着く) while を marks the space traversed or the point of departure with the same kind of motion verb (通る, 出る), so learners easily swap them.

Written forms

をUsage100%
Kana-only particle; no kanji form exists.
ヲUsage<1%

Etymology

The particle を derives from Old Japanese particle を, which originally marked an exclamatory or emphatic object. Its modern use as a direct object marker developed early and has remained stable.