は（主題）: rules, examples & exercises | Japanese Grammar A1

は（主題）

A1 — 助詞

Topic marker は — marks what the sentence is about

Can use は to mark the topic of a sentence

Topic marker は — marks what the sentence is about

Examples

助詞A1

Topic marker は — marks what the sentence is about

Learning Goal

Can use は to mark the topic

Exam Skills:JLPT N5 Grammar

Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?

私は日本語を勉強しています。

I am studying Japanese.

今日は暑いですね。

It's hot today, isn't it?

Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?

は (pronounced wa as a particle, not ha) marks the topic of a sentence — what you're talking about.

Pattern: [Topic] は [comment about topic]。

Example	Topic	Comment
私わたしは学がく生せいです。	私 (I)	学生です (am a student)
東とう京きょうは大おおきいです。	東京 (Tokyo)	大きいです (is big)

は vs が: は = 'as for X...' (known info); が = 'X does...' (new info/focus). At A1, use は for most sentences.

Contrast: 私は食べます。(As for me, I'll eat.) — implies 'but others might not'.

Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

Pronouncing は as 'ha' instead of 'wa' when used as a particle; Overusing は where が is needed (with question words, existence verbs)

私は日本語を勉強しています。

I am studying Japanese.

私(わたし, I) + は(topic) — 'As for me, I am studying Japanese'

今日は暑いですね。

It's hot today, isn't it?

今日(きょう, today) + は(topic) + 暑い(あつい, hot) + ですね(isn't it) — weather as topic

Practice in course

Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

When is は（主題） used?: は (pronounced wa as a particle, not ha) marks the topic of a sentence — what you're talking about.
How is は（主題） formed?: は vs が: は = 'as for X...' (known info); が = 'X does...' (new info/focus). At A1, use は for most sentences. Contrast: 私は食べます。(As for me, I'll eat.) — implies 'but others might not'.
What are common mistakes with は（主題）?: Pronouncing は as 'ha' instead of 'wa' when used as a particle; Overusing は where が is needed (with question words, existence verbs)