How to Use を? | Japanese Object Particle (N5 Level)

Q: What is を?

を is the Japanese object particle . This is romanised as wo, but the w is not pronounced. It sounds like pronouncing the letter O.

Q: Any sentence examples using を?

先生は授業を始める | The teacher will start the class. X を向く | To look at X. 私は宿題をします | I will so homework.

Q: What are some other Japanese particles?

Japanese has several important particles to learn about: - The subject particle が - The possessive particle の - Locations particles で, に, and へ You'll see more as you move forward in your language learning.

Q: Can I learn Japanese online?

Yes you can! You can study with us 24/7 on our online platform Flexi Classes by choosing what and when to study. If you prefer a more traditional approach to learning you can study with one of certified teacher in individual classes and stick to a schedule decided beforehand.

Q: Can I study in Japan with LTL?

Yes you can! We now offer in person classes in Tokyo, Japan. You can study in group or in 1-on-1 classes with your teacher, and even have the opportunity to live with a Japanese homestay family for more immersion in the culture. Let's talk about your project now 👋

Home A1 Object particle を

JAPANESE OBJECT PARTICLE を

Welcome to another Japanese lesson for beginners! Let’s have a look at how to use を, the object particle.

The object of a sentence is the thing that “receives” the verb, or in other words, is the thing acted on by the subject.

This is romanised as wo, but the w is not pronounced. It sounds like pronouncing the letter O.

FINDING THE OBJECT

An easy way to determine the object of a sentence is to ask, “what is the subject (verb)ing?”

Let’s have a look at these sentences:

KANJI	ROMAJI	ENGLISH
私は宿題をします	watashi wa shukudai wo shimasu	I will do homework
彼女は昼ご飯を作りました	kanojo wa hirugohan wo tsukurimashita	She made lunch

In these sentences, we can look at the verb and ask, “what is the verb acting on?”

In the first one, the verb is “to do”. What is the thing being done? Homework.
In the second, the verb is “made”. What was made? Lunch.

PATTERN

Object + を

These verbs also have something in common. They are transitive verbs, meaning they are verbs that act on the object.

NOTE | There are also intransitive verbs, and they do not act on an object in a sentence.
A sentence with an intransitive verb will not have an object in it marked with を.

TRANSITIVE & INTRANSITIVE VERBS

Let’s look at these two verbs for an example:

始める	hajimeru	To begin, to start (something)
始まる	hajimaru	(something) begins, starts

The first verb, 始める, is transitive, so there can be a direct object marked with particle を in the sentence.

On the other hand, 始まる is intransitive. There will not be an object specified:

先生は授業を始める	sensei wa jugyou wo hajimeru	The teacher will start the class
授業は始まる	jugyou wa hajimaru	The class will begin

Many verbs will have a transitive and an intransitive form like this. Over time it will become easy to spot the patterns and the differences.

CASE STUDY || VERBS “TO LOOK AT”

Let’s put all of this into practice, and have a look at three versions of the verb “to look at/to face”:

VERB 1	VERB 2	VERB 3
向く	向ける	向かう
muku	mukeru	mukau
To turn toward, to face	To point, aim	To face
*TRANSITIVE*	*TRANSITIVE*	*INTRANSITIVE*

The way each of these verbs behave is different, even though their meaning is roughly the same.

KANJI	ROMAJI	ENGLISH
X を向く	X wo muku	To look at/turn towards X
XをYに向ける	X wo Y ni mukeru	To turn X towards Y
XはYに向かう	X wa Y ni mukau	X faces Y

The first two verbs are transitive, so they can have an object with を.

In the first example, X, the object, is the thing being looked at or aimed at.
In the second example, the object X is the thing being turned to point in the direction of Y.
In the third example, the verb is intransitive, so there is no object.

NOTE || However, X is still facing in a direction, and that direction can be marked with particle に.

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SIMILAR RESOURCES

Want to learn more? Check out these other free resources:

Learn more about the Japanese subject particle が
Learn more about the Japanese topic particle は
Learn about the basic Korean particles 은/는, 이/가, 을/를

FAQs

What is を?

を is the Japanese object particle.

This is romanised as wo, but the w is not pronounced. It sounds like pronouncing the letter O.

How to use を?

を is added at the end of an object when the sentence has a transitive verb (verbs that act on the object).

A sentence with an intransitive verb will not have an object in it marked with を.

Any sentence examples using を?

先生は授業を始める | The teacher will start the class.

X を向く | To look at X.

私は宿題をします | I will so homework.

What are some other Japanese particles?

Japanese has several important particles to learn about:

– The subject particle が

– The possessive particle の

– Locations particles で, に, and へ

You’ll see more as you move forward in your language learning.

Can I learn Japanese online?

Yes you can!

You can study with us 24/7 on our online platform Flexi Classes by choosing what and when to study.

If you prefer a more traditional approach to learning you can study with one of certified teacher in individual classes and stick to a schedule decided beforehand.

Can I study in Japan with LTL?

Yes you can!

We now offer in person classes in Tokyo, Japan.

You can study in group or in 1-on-1 classes with your teacher, and even have the opportunity to live with a Japanese homestay family for more immersion in the culture.

Let’s talk about your project now 👋