を

Object Marker

Level 1Sounds Like wo

を is the direct object marker. It tells you 'what' is being acted upon (e.g., eating sushi, reading books). It also marks movement through a space or leaving a place.

How It Works

The particle を serves three main functions in Japanese:

1. Direct Object Marker: This is its most common use. It marks the noun that is directly affected by a transitive verb.
Example: コーヒーを飲みます（のみます） (Drink coffee).

2. Route of Movement: When used with verbs of motion like walking or flying, it marks the space or path through which the movement occurs.
Example: 公園を歩く（こうえんをあるく） (Walk through the park).

3. Point of Departure: It marks the place you are leaving or getting off from.
Example: 電車を降りる（でんしゃをおりる） (Get off the train).

The Double-を Rule: Japanese grammar generally forbids having two を particles in the same simple clause. This is known as the 'Double-o Constraint'. If a sentence structure (like the causative form) would normally require two objects, one を is typically replaced by に to avoid this repetition.

Note on Pronunciation and Typing: Although written as を, it is pronounced exactly like お in modern Japanese. However, when using a digital keyboard, you must type 'wo' to produce this character and distinguish it from お.

Casual Speech: In very casual conversation, を is often dropped (e.g., 晩ご飯食べる？（ばんごはんたべる？） instead of 晩ご飯を食べる？). However, it is required in formal writing and polite speech.

Examples (5)

  1. りんごを食べます。

    I eat an apple.

    Word by Word: Apple [object] eat.

    Here, 'apple' is the direct object receiving the action of 'eating'.

  2. 本を読みました。

    I read a book.

    Word by Word: Book [object] read (past).

    The particle を marks 'book' as the thing that was read.

  3. 空を飛びます。

    It flies through the sky.

    Word by Word: Sky [route] fly.

    When used with 'fly', を indicates the space (the sky) through which the subject moves.

  4. 毎朝、家を七時に出ます。

    I leave the house at 7:00 every morning.

    Word by Word: Every morning, house [departure] 7 o'clock at leave.

    を marks the 'house' as the point of departure.

  5. この道をまっすぐ行ってください。

    Please go straight along this road.

    Word by Word: This road [route] straight go please.

    を marks the road as the path to be followed.

Common Mistakes

  • Using を with stative verbs like 'understand' or 'can do'.

    日本語をわかります。
    日本語がわかります。

    Verbs like わかります and potential forms like ことができます usually take the particle が instead of を because they describe a state rather than a direct action.

  • Using を for a destination.

    学校をいきます。
    学校にいきます。

    を marks a path you move 'through' or a place you 'leave', but the destination you are going 'to' must be marked with に or へ.

  • Using を with 'like' or 'dislike'.

    すしを好きです。
    すしが好きです。

    In Japanese, 好き is an adjective, not a verb. Therefore, the object of your affection is marked with が.

How It Connects

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をLevel 1Object Marker

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