Video
Let’s watch this short video for a quick overview.
Source: gokigen japanese official YouTube Channel
Introduction
If you’ve started learning Japanese, you’ve likely run into the two most common particles: は (wa) and が (ga). Both can mark the subject of a sentence… but they are not interchangeable!
Understanding the difference between は and が is essential for speaking and understanding Japanese naturally. In this guide, you’ll learn how to choose between these two particles based on:
- Focus and emphasis
- New vs. known information
- Wh-questions and answers
Let’s break it down!
1. Basic Roles of は and が
| Particle | Function | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| は | Topic marker | Known information / general context |
| が | Subject marker | New or emphasized information / unknown subject |
2. Rule #1: Place of emphasis
We choose between X は Y and X が Y based on whether which information (X or Y) is more important.
In the sentence below, Michiko’s emphasis is on the information that she is a doctor (= Y is important).
みちこさんは弁護士ですか。= Are you a lawyer, Michiko?
いいえ、私は医者です。 = No, I’m a doctor (and not a lawyer or teacher).
However, in the sentence below, she is emphasizing that she, not anybody else, is a doctor (= X is important).
お父さんは医者ですか。 = Is your father a doctor?
いいえ、わたしが医者です。 = No, I am a doctor (not my father or anyone else).
In English you would have read “I” strongly.
3. Rule #2: New vs. Old Information
Use は for old or already-known topics.
Use が when introducing new information.
When we use “は”
は is used for old information. In the sentence below, “this book” has likely been introduced to the topic earlier and you continue to talk about it.
きのう、本を買いました。この本はおもしろいです。
I bought a book yesterday. This book is interesting.
When we use “が”
On the other hand, が is often used for a new piece of information. In the sentence below, “this book” has not been mentioned in the context and introduced as new information.
この本がおもしろいですよ。ぜひ読んでください。
This book is interesting. Please read it.
4. Rule #3: Use が in Wh-Questions
When asking who, what, which, always use が to mark the unknown subject.
- だれが 医者ですか。 – さとうさんが 医者です。
Who is the doctor? – Mr. Sato is the doctor. - どの本が おもしろいですか。 – この本がおもしろいですよ。
Which book is interesting? – This one is interesting.
Questions words like だれ, どれ cannot be followed by the topic particle は because an unknown object cannot be a topic.
Example: Which one is Mr. Yamada’s book?
- Incorrect: どれは山田さんの本ですか。
- Correct: どれが山田さんの本ですか。
5. Let’s Compare: Same Sentence, Different Feel
| Sentence | Meaning |
|---|---|
| わたしは 医者です。 | I’m a doctor (talking about myself / my job). |
| わたしが 医者です。 | I’m the one who is a doctor (not someone else). |
| この本はおもしろい。 | This book is interesting (among many). |
| この本がおもしろい。 | This is the book that’s interesting! |
6. Practice Time!
Answer the questions using が：
- だれが 桃が好きですか。= Who likes peaches?
→ ノリさんが 桃が好きです。= Nori likes peaches. - だれが 自転車を持っていますか。= Who has a bicycle?
→ メアリーさんが 自転車を持っています。= Mary has a bicycle. - どんな日本料理が 有名ですか。= What kind of Japanese cuisine is it famous for?
→ とんかつが 有名です。= Pork cutlets are famous. - どんな 映画 が おもしろかったですか。= What movie was interesting to you?
→ 「スター・ウォーズ」が おもしろかったです。= “Star Wars” was fun.
7. FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
- QIs が always stronger than は?
- A
Yes, が is more specific and emphasizes who/what is being referred to. Use it when you’re identifying something or someone.
- QCan I use both は and が in the same sentence?
- A
Yes! Example: わたし は 音楽 が 好きです。
= As for me, I like music.
- QWhat’s a good rule of thumb for beginners?
- A
Use は for setting up a topic. Example: たけしさんはサラリーマンです。= Takeshi is an office worker. / As for Takeshi, he is an office worker.
Use が to answer “who?” or “what?” or to emphasise something specific.
Also, use が when you are describing something neutrally for the first time.
(e.g., あ、猫がいる！ – Oh, there’s a cat!)
- QCan the topic marked by は (wa) be something other than the grammatical subject?
- A
Yes! While the topic (marked by は) is often the subject (like in 私は学生です – I am a student), は broadly indicates what you want to talk about.
It can mark time (今日は – Today…), location (ここでは – Here…), or other elements as the general theme of the sentence. Think of it as meaning “As for…”, “Regarding X…” or “Speaking of X…”.
- QYou said が marks new information. Does it always mean strong emphasis?
- A
Not always strong emphasis. While が can be used for emphasis (Rule #1), it’s also the default particle to mark the subject when simply introducing something new or making a neutral observation.
For example: 「あ、雨が降ってきた。」 (A, ame ga futte kita – Oh, it started raining). Here, が neutrally marks “rain” as the subject doing the action, which is new information in the scene.
Conclusion
Understanding the difference between は and が helps you:
✅ Speak more naturally
✅ Emphasize the right information
✅ Answer wh-questions properly
✅ Avoid common beginner mistakes
🌟 Challenge: Try answering this— あなたの国では、どんなスポーツが人気ですか？
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