小しょう詞し

noun

indeclinable function word; particle; auxiliary; discourse marker

Linguistics term for words that do not inflect and serve grammatical or discourse functions, such as particles, auxiliaries, and discourse markers. Not a common everyday word.

• 日本にほん語ごの「は」や「が」は小しょう詞しに分ぶん類るいされる。

  Japanese 'wa' and 'ga' are classified as indeclinable function words.

• 小しょう詞しには助じょ詞しや助じょ動どう詞しなどが含ふくまれる。

  Indeclinable function words include particles, auxiliary verbs, and the like.