は (wa) — topic marker
Marks the topic of the sentence. Pronounced "wa" when used as a particle (written as the hiragana は).
わたしは がくせい です。
Watashi wa gakusei desu.
I am a student.
きょうは いいてんき です。
Kyō wa ii tenki desu.
As for today, the weather is good.
が (ga) — subject / emphasis
Often marks the subject or emphasizes existence/contrast (e.g., with verbs like あります / います).
ねこが います。
Neko ga imasu.
There is a cat. (living thing)
だれが きますか？
Dare ga kimasu ka?
Who will come?
の (no) — possession / noun modifier
Works like "'s" in English or connects nouns. It shows possession or description.
わたしの ほん。
Watashi no hon.
My book.
にほんの くるま。
Nihon no kuruma.
A Japanese car.
に (ni) — target/time/place
Used for destination (to), time (at/on), and location for certain verbs.
がっこうに いきます。
Gakkō ni ikimasu.
I go to school.
さんじに いきます。
Sanji ni ikimasu.
I will go at 3 o'clock.
へ (e) — direction marker
Pronounced "e". Similar to に when indicating direction — "toward" or "to".
ともだちへ はがきを かきます。
Tomodachi e hagaki o kakimasu.
I will write a postcard to my friend.
にほんへ いきます。
Nihon e ikimasu.
I'm going to Japan.
です (desu) — polite copula
Polite ending for sentences that state identity, description, or existence (works like "to be").
これは りんごです。
Kore wa ringo desu.
This is an apple.
あのひとは せんせいです。
Ano hito wa sensei desu.
That person is a teacher.
ます (masu) — polite verb ending
Attach to verb stems to make verbs polite. Present/future tense in polite form.
たべます。
Tabemasu.
(I) eat / will eat.
のみます。
Nomimasu.
(I) drink / will drink.
みます (mimasu) — example verb (to see / to watch)
A common -ます verb (stem: み-) used to practice conjugation and particles.
えいがを みます。
Eiga o mimasu.
I watch a movie.
にほんごの ほんを みます。
Nihongo no hon o mimasu.
I look at / read a Japanese book.