JLPT N5 Grammar: を (wo/o) — The Direct Object Particle

JLPT N5 Grammar: を (wo / o)

Q: How is を pronounced?

It is pronounced exactly like the kana お ('o'). Some speakers round their lips slightly (closer to 'wo'), but in modern standard Japanese it is identical to お.

The direct object particle — marking what the action is done to

JLPTジェイエルピーティー N5エヌゴ文法ぶんぽう助詞じょし「を」解説かいせつ (直接目的語ちょくせつもくてきご・移動いどうの経路けいろ)

⏱️ Study time: 5–7 minutes

The particle を (pronounced "o") marks the direct object — the thing that receives the action of a transitive verb. It also marks the path of movement with verbs like 歩く (walk) or 出る (leave). One of the simplest particles, but mixing it up with が is a classic JLPT N5 trap.

🚀 JLPT N5 Warm-up Quiz

Q: How do you say "I eat sushi" using the correct object particle?

Answer: B (お寿司を食べます). 食べる is a transitive verb — the thing you eat takes を. A with が is wrong here; C with は is contrastive (implies "as for sushi I eat it, but as for something else…").

Quick Summary

Grammar Point
を

Pronunciation
お (o) — same as お

Function
Marks the direct object of a transitive verb

Example
本ほんを読よみます。ほんをよみます。Hon o yomimasu.
I read a book.

📝 Core Patterns with を

Direct object: Object + を + Transitive Verb

Path of movement: Place + を + Movement Verb (歩く, 渡る, 出る)

Starting point: Place + を + 出る / 降りる (leave, get off)

⚠️ を is only used with transitive verbs (actions you do TO something). Intransitive verbs and adjectives like すき take が.

🧠 Confused about が vs を? See が (ga) — Subject Particle →

💡 Toggle furigana, hiragana, or romaji for easier reading.

What is を?

を (pronounced お, "o") is the direct object particle. It marks the noun that receives the action of a transitive verb — the thing being eaten, read, bought, seen, made, etc. It also marks the route or space of movement with certain verbs.

Always pronounced お (o) — identical to the kana お.
Used only with transitive verbs (actions done to an object).
Cannot be used twice in the same clause (rare exception: movement through an area).

毎朝まいあさコーヒーを飲のみます。まいあさこーひーをのみます。Maiasa kōhī o nomimasu.
I drink coffee every morning. (coffee = direct object of drink)

⚡ Two Main Functions of を

Function	Explanation	Example
Direct Object (目的語)	Marks the thing that receives the action of a transitive verb.	手紙てがみを書かきます。てがみをかきます。Tegami o kakimasu. I write a letter.
Path of Movement (経路)	Marks the space through which one moves.	公園こうえんを散歩さんぽします。こうえんをさんぽします。Kōen o sanpo shimasu. I walk through the park.

Examples & Mini Dialogue

昨日きのう映画えいがを見みました。きのうえいがをみました。Kinō eiga o mimashita.
I watched a movie yesterday.

✅ 見る is transitive — the thing watched takes を.

毎日まいにち駅えきの前まえを通とおります。まいにちえきのまえをとおります。Mainichi eki no mae o tōrimasu.
I pass in front of the station every day. (movement through a point)

🗣️ Mini Dialogue
A: 週末しゅうまつに何なにをしましたか。しゅうまつになにをしましたか。Shūmatsu ni nani o shimashita ka.
B: 買かい物ものをしました。それから友達ともだちに手紙てがみを書かきました。かいものをしました。それからともだちにてがみをかきました。Kaimono o shimashita. Sorekara tomodachi ni tegami o kakimashita.

⚡ を (direct object) vs が (subject) — Quick Decision Guide

Verb Type	Particle	Example
Transitive (actions on something): 食べる, 見る, 読む, 書く, 買う, 使う	を	本ほんを読よみます。
Intransitive / state: いる, ある, 降る (rain), 咲く (bloom)	が	雨あめが降ふっています。
Ability / preference: できる, すき, きらい, じょうず	が	英語えいごができます。
Wanting (thing): ほしい	が	カメラがほしいです。

⚠️ Critical JLPT Trap: Verbs like すき, きらい, できる, ほしい take が, NOT を. Saying "英語えいごをできます" or "カメラをほしい" is a common N5 error.

Common Mistakes (and Fixes)

✕ 英語えいごをできます。

✓ 英語えいごができます。 (できる takes が.)

✕ 公園こうえんに散歩さんぽします。

✓ 公園こうえんを散歩さんぽします。 (Movement through space uses を, not に.)

✕ お茶ちゃが飲のみます。

✓ お茶ちゃを飲のみます。 (飲む is transitive — the thing drunk takes を.)

JLPT N5 Practice Questions

Score: 0 / 3

1. "I read a newspaper." Which particle is correct?

2. "I can speak Japanese." Which particle does できる take?

3. "I walk through the park." — movement through space takes which particle?

🎯 JLPT N5 tip: を is the particle you use for everyday actions — eating, reading, buying, watching. But すき/できる/ほしい trick many learners by taking が instead. Know the difference and you'll ace these questions.

Test yourself with a free mock exam →

About the Instructor

Taught by Anup Sensei at Gogaku Language & Training Center in Pokhara. With real Japan experience and a focus on exam essentials, he helps students pass the JLPT with confidence.

Related Grammar

Frequently Asked Questions

How is を pronounced?

It is pronounced exactly like the kana お ("o"). Some speakers round their lips slightly (closer to "wo"), but in modern standard Japanese it is identical to お. In romaji it is often written "wo" to distinguish it from お, but the pronunciation is the same.

Can を be used with です?

No. を is a particle that links an object to a verb. です is the copula, not an action verb. You never say "noun + を + です".

Why does 好き use が instead of を?

In Japanese, すき and きらい are adjectives (describing states), not action verbs. The thing you like is the subject that "is likeable" to you. So it takes が. を is reserved for things you actively do something to.

Can I use を more than once in a sentence?

Generally no. Japanese avoids multiple を in the same clause. If you have two objects, you might use を and に or restructure the sentence.

Continue Learning

Next: に (ni) — the location/goal particle.

Learn に →

→ Explore the JLPT N5 Grammar Hub

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