Read three common particles in sentences without confusing their sound with their spelling.
The idea
Topic は is pronounced wa, direction へ is e, and object を is normally o. Write the particles は, へ and を even when their sound resembles わ, え or お. For example, 部屋へ行きます means going towards a room.
| Written particle | Sound |
|---|---|
| は | wa |
| へ | e |
| を | o |
Examples
- 私は学生です。I am a student.
- 花はきれいです。The flowers are beautiful.
- 部屋へ行きます。I go to the room.
- 学校へ行きます。I go to school.
- 水を飲みます。I drink water.
- 本を読みます。I read a book.
Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.
No Japanese device voice is available. You can still read the text and use the linked listening resources.
Watch out
In ordinary words, は in はな is ha and へ in へや is he. Identify whether the kana is part of a word or a particle before deciding how to read it.
Try it yourself
Choose and fill the blank: 私＿学生です。（は／わ）
Show answer or example answer
は
は marks 私 as the topic and is pronounced wa here.
Choose and fill the blank: 部屋＿行きます。（へ／え）
Show answer or example answer
へ
へ marks the direction of movement and is pronounced e.
Choose and fill the blank: 水＿飲みます。（を／お）
Show answer or example answer
を
を marks 水 as the object of 飲みます and is normally pronounced o.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Japanese sentences where available. We keep your score.
Choose and fill the blank: 私＿学生です。（は／わ）
Choose and fill the blank: 部屋＿行きます。（へ／え）
Choose and fill the blank: 水＿飲みます。（を／お）
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Read the examples aloud, then write one sentence about yourself, one destination and one thing you drink. Check both the particle spelling and its sound.