If you’re learning Japanese, you’ve probably struggled with understanding the difference between the particles は (wa) and が (ga). At first, they both seem to do the same thing—mark the subject of a sentence. So why does Japanese need two different words?
The truth is, they don’t actually do the same job. The difference is subtle but important — and once you understand it, Japanese sentences will start to make much more sense.
Let’s break it down clearly and simply.
What Are Particles?
In Japanese, particles are short words placed after nouns to show their grammatical function in a sentence. They’re often called grammatical markers.
は and が both follow nouns, but they play different roles in a sentence.
は (wa): The Topic Marker
は tells the listener what the sentence is about — it marks the topic. Even though it’s written as “は“, it’s pronounced “wa” when used as a particle.
Think of it as:
“As for [this], here’s something about it.”
Example:
猫は可愛い。
Neko wa kawaii.
“As for cats, they’re cute.”
This sentence isn’t pointing to a specific cat. It’s talking about cats in general. “Cats” is introduced as the topic, and the rest of the sentence tells you something about them.
が (ga): The Subject Marker
が marks the subject of the sentence — the person or thing performing an action or being described. It often introduces new information or puts emphasis on the subject.
Think of it as:
“This is what is doing something or being something.”
Example:
猫が可愛い。
Neko ga kawaii.
“The cat is cute.”
This is more specific. Maybe someone said the dog was cute, and you’re correcting them: it’s the cat, not the dog, that’s cute. The focus is on who or what is cute.
When to Use は vs. が
Here’s a quick guide:
| Situation | Use は | Use が |
|---|---|---|
| Talking about known info | ✓ | |
| Introducing new info | ✓ | |
| Emphasizing the subject | ✓ | |
| Making a contrast | ✓ | ✓ (sometimes) |
Compare These Two
1. 私は学生です。
“I am a student.”
→ You’re introducing yourself. “Me” is the topic.
2. 私が学生です。
“I am the one who is a student.”
→ You’re emphasizing that you — not someone else — are the student. Maybe there was confusion about who the student is.
Let’s Try a Few
Scenario 1:
You’re talking about your dog’s health.
→ Use は
犬は元気です。
“My dog is healthy.”
Scenario 2:
Someone asks, “Who’s barking?”
→ Use が
犬が吠えています。
“The dog is barking.”
→ You’re introducing new information — which animal is making the noise.
Final Tip
When in doubt, use は. It’s a safe default when you’re introducing a topic or talking about something already known.
As you get more comfortable with Japanese, you’ll start to feel when が sounds more natural — especially when you’re pointing something out, correcting someone, or introducing something new.
This isn’t about memorizing strict rules — it’s about developing a feel for how these particles guide the flow of conversation.
Quick Recap
- は introduces the topic — what you’re talking about.
- が marks the subject — who or what is doing something, often with emphasis or newness.
You won’t master は and が overnight, but now you have a clear foundation. Pay attention to how they’re used in real Japanese sentences, and the patterns will start to click.
