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日本語オンラインキーボード
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N5

は - the topic marker

Xは Yです

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Meaning

Marks X as the topic of the sentence; Y describes or identifies it.

Explanation

は (pronounced "wa" when used as a particle) marks whatever comes before it as the sentence's topic - what the rest of the sentence is about. It doesn't mean X performs the action or is the grammatical subject the way English "subject" works; it just sets up what's being discussed, and です (the polite copula, "is/am/are") often follows to say something about it.

Formation

Noun + は + Noun/Adjective + です

Examples

  • わたしは学生です。

    わたしはがくせいです。

    I am a student.

  • これは本です。

    これはほんです。

    This is a book.

Grammar explanations and example sentences written for NihongoTech.