Japanese Particles Overview

Aug 26, 2025

Overview

This lecture covers the Japanese particles "mo" (also) and "no" (possessive), explaining their usage with examples and noting special cases.

The Particle "mo" (also)

  • "Mo" means "also" or "too" and replaces the particles "wa" and "ga" in a sentence.
  • Example: "Neko ga imasu" (There is a cat) becomes "Neko mo imasu" (There is a cat, also).
  • "Mo" can be used instead of "wa" as in "Kore wa neko desu" (This is a cat) → "Kore mo neko desu" (This also is a cat).
  • Used to indicate multiple items or people are included: "Sensei ga imasu" → "Sensei mo imasu".
  • In conversations: "Anata wa Nihonjin desu ka? Watashi mo Nihonjin desu." (Are you Japanese? I am Japanese, too.)
  • Lists: "Inu mo, neko mo, sakana mo deshita." (There were dogs, cats, and fish.)

Particle "mo" with Other Particles

  • "Mo" does not replace the particle "ni" (location/time marker); instead, "mo" is added after "ni."
  • Example: "Douyoubi ni" (On Saturday) → "Douyoubi ni mo" (On Saturday, also).
  • Used with places or times: "Gakkou ni mo" (To school, also).
  • Full-sentence example: "Eki ni mo supamaketto ni mo yubinkyoku ni mo ikimashita." (I went to the station, supermarket, and post office.)

The Possessive Particle "no"

  • "No" shows possession, similar to English "'s" or "of."
  • The owner comes before "no," then the thing owned: "Jennifer no ie" (Jennifer's house).
  • Examples: "Sensei no tomodachi" (The teacher's friend), "Suzuki-san no ie" (Miss Suzuki’s house), "Watashi no neko" (My cat).
  • "My" and "your" use "watashi no" and "anata no" respectively.

Key Terms & Definitions

  • mo — Japanese particle meaning "also" or "too," replaces "wa" and "ga."
  • wa — Japanese topic marker particle.
  • ga — Japanese subject marker particle.
  • ni — Japanese particle for location or time.
  • no — Japanese possessive particle, acts like "'s" in English.

Action Items / Next Steps

  • Practice creating sentences using "mo" and "no" with your own vocabulary.
  • Study the example sentences and replace nouns or names for more practice.