The difference between は and が particle part 1 I am Rachel.
Published 2019-05-07 私 わたくし が Rachel です 。 I am Rachel.
AI Explain あ、Rachelさん。 Ah, Rachel. 私はRachelです。 I am Rachel. あ、私はRachelです。 Oh, I am Rachel. アメリカ人です。 I am American. 趣味が料理です。 My hobby is cooking. あ、趣味は料理です。 Oh, my hobby is cooking. Oh、趣味は料理です。 Oh, my hobby is cooking. 旅行するのは好きです。 I like traveling. あー、旅行するのが好きですね。 Ah, I like traveling. はとがとなんでこんなにややこしいねん、この野郎！ Why are は and が so confusing, damn it! Oh、す、すみません。 Oh, s-sorry. え？ Huh? Hi、皆さん、こんにちは。 Hi, everyone, hello. Welcome back to my channel。 Welcome back to my channel. I'm Miku from Real Japanese。 I'm Miku from Real Japanese. If you are new here, I am Miku and I am a teacher who wants to teach real Japanese in fun way。 If you are new here, I am Miku, a teacher who wants to teach real Japanese in a fun way. そう、よろしくお願いします。 Yes, nice to meet you. Anyway, I know that Rachel is not alone here。 Anyway, I know that Rachel is not alone here. I get this all the time from my students。 I get this all the time from my students. Like, why Japanese people? Like, why Japanese people? Why Miku sensei? Why Miku sensei? Why do you do that to me? Why do you do that to me? I confuse with ga and wa all the time。 I confuse with ga and wa all the time. Why? Why? And I go like, I'm sorry, I'm terribly sorry, but that's why I'm here with you。 And I go like, I'm sorry, I'm terribly sorry, but that's why I'm here with you. Mastering particle doesn't seem so important, but here is the thing, Japanese people can pick up on those mistakes pretty well, and your Japanese might sound a little bit weird to them if you make mistakes with particles, so this lesson is quite important。 Mastering particle doesn't seem so important, but here is the thing, Japanese people can pick up on those mistakes pretty well, and your Japanese might sound a little bit weird to them if you make mistakes with particles, so this lesson is quite important. In this video, I'll be teaching the difference between wa and ga particle and their function。 In this video, I'll be teaching the difference between wa and ga particle and their function. It will be useful to you whether you just started learning Japanese or you're intermediate level, but you want to take your Japanese to another level。 It will be useful to you whether you just started learning Japanese or you're intermediate level, but you want to take your Japanese to another level. And I think this video will be a little bit longer than normal, so get yourself coffee or tea and sit with me like you're hanging out with your Japanese friends。 And I think this video will be a little bit longer than normal, so get yourself coffee or tea and sit with me like you're hanging out with your Japanese friends. And let's learn about particles。 And let's learn about particles. OK、are you ready? OK, are you ready? Let's start。 Let's start. So first of all, what is wa particle? So first of all, what is wa particle? Wa particle is a topic marker。 Wa particle is a topic marker. So what I mean by this is that what I say before wa particle is what I'm gonna talk about。 So what I mean by this is that what I say before wa particle is what I'm gonna talk about. For example, if I say 私は教師です。 For example, if I say 'I am a teacher'. 私は教師です。 I am a teacher. which means I am a teacher, the topic is 私。 which means I am a teacher, the topic is 'I'. Topic is 私。 The topic is 'I'. So I am letting the other person know that I'm gonna talk about myself。 So I am letting the other person know that I'm gonna talk about myself. If I want to say, this is my phone, I would say これは私の携帯です。 If I want to say, 'this is my phone', I would say 'これは私の携帯です'. これは私の携帯です。 This is my phone. So I am saying I'm gonna talk about this。 So I am saying I'm gonna talk about this. This, これは, is my phone, 私の携帯です。 This, 'これは', is my phone, '私の携帯です'. A lot of people think that this wa particle is the verb to be in English, like is, am, are. A lot of people think that this wa particle is the verb to be in English, like is, am, are. But in Japanese sentence, the verb always comes at the end of the sentence。 But in Japanese sentence, the verb always comes at the end of the sentence. So this です is actually the verb to be。 So this 'です' is actually the verb to be. If you wanna be casual, you can just omit this です at the end and say これは私の携帯。 If you wanna be casual, you can just omit this 'です' at the end and say 'これは私の携帯'. これは私の携帯。 This is my phone. If I say 私は教師です, many people think that in this sentence, the main focus is 私, but it's not。 If I say 私は教師です, many people think that in this sentence, the main focus is 私, but it's not. 私 is just a topic, and I'm letting the other person know that I'm, I'm gonna talk about myself。 私 is just a topic, and I'm letting the other person know that I'm, I'm gonna talk about myself. But the main focus in this sentence is the fact that I am a teacher。 But the main focus in this sentence is the fact that I am a teacher. If I say 私はMikuです, the main focus is that I am Miku。 If I say 私はMikuです, the main focus is that I am Miku. Miku is the main focus, not 私。 Miku is the main focus, not 私. But if I say 私がMikuです, it's different。 But if I say 私がMikuです, it's different. When I say 私がMikuです, I am saying I am the one who is Miku。 When I say 私がMikuです, I am saying I am the one who is Miku. Let's say someone says to my friends, "Are you Miku? Let's say someone says to my friends, "Are you Miku? Are you Miku? Are you Miku? " And I wanna say, I'm next to her, I wanna say, "No, no, no, no, not her。 " And I wanna say, I'm next to her, I wanna say, "No, no, no, no, not her. I am the one who is Miku。 I am the one who is Miku. " In that case, I would say 私がMikuです。 " In that case, I would say 私がMikuです. 私がMikuです。 私がMikuです. So if I use this ga particle in this sentence, 私がMikuです, I am focusing on the fact that I am Miku, not her。 So if I use this ga particle in this sentence, 私がMikuです, I am focusing on the fact that I am Miku, not her. So the focus changes into 私, not Miku。 So the focus changes into 私, not Miku. Of course, it goes same with the sentence with adjectives。 Of course, it goes same with the sentence with adjectives. Let's say, this movie is interesting, you would say この映画は面白い。 Let's say, this movie is interesting, you would say この映画は面白い. この映画は面白い。 この映画は面白い. And the main focus is the fact that this movie is interesting, right? And the main focus is the fact that this movie is interesting, right? OK, another example。 OK, another example. If I say 明日はテストです。 If I say 'Tomorrow is a test.' 明日はテストです。 'Tomorrow is a test.' Tomorrow, we'll have exam。 Tomorrow, we'll have an exam. The main focus in this sentence is the fact that we are gonna have a test。 The main focus in this sentence is the fact that we are gonna have a test. We are gonna have an exam tomorrow。 We are gonna have an exam tomorrow. But if someone says 今日はテストです。 But if someone says 'Today is a test.' 今日はテストです。 'Today is a test.' Today, we'll have exam。 Today, we'll have an exam. And I wanna say, "No, no, no, no, no, not today。 And I wanna say, "No, no, no, no, no, not today." Tomorrow is the day we are gonna be having exam。 Tomorrow is the day we are going to have an exam. Tomorrow。 Tomorrow. " I would say 明日がテストです。 I would say 'Tomorrow is the exam.' 明日がテストです。 Tomorrow is the exam. Instead of saying 明日はテストです。 Instead of saying 'As for tomorrow, it is the exam.' So if I use ga particle like this, the focus goes to the thing that I say before ga。 So if I use ga particle like this, the focus goes to the thing that I say before ga. So tomorrow, 明日が, tomorrow is the main focus in the sentence。 So tomorrow, 明日が, tomorrow is the main focus in the sentence. When you say, "This is an apple," in English, the main focus is on apple, right? When you say, "This is an apple," in English, the main focus is on apple, right? You're not saying, "This is an apple," right? You're not saying, "This is an apple," right? You're just saying, "This is an apple. You're just saying, "This is an apple." " So focus is on apple. So focus is on apple. In that case, in Japanese, you say, これはりんごです。 In that case, in Japanese, you say, 'This is an apple.' これはりんごです。 This is an apple. But for example, someone is holding, let's say, a pear, and then he says, これはりんごです。 But for example, someone is holding, let's say, a pear, and then he says, 'This is an apple.' これはりんごです。 This is an apple. And you wanna say, "No, no, no, no, no, no. And you wanna say, "No, no, no, no, no, no. This is an apple, not that. This is an apple, not that. This is an apple. This is an apple. " You wanna focus on the fact that this is an apple. " You wanna focus on the fact that this is an apple. In that case, you say, これがりんごです。 In that case, you say, 'This is an apple.' これがりんごです, not that.Okay, another example. これがりんごです, not that.Okay, another example. So let's say your older sister ate your mom's cake, and your mom is so angry, and h- she's like, "Who did it? So let's say your older sister ate your mom's cake, and your mom is so angry, and h- she's like, "Who did it? Who did it? Who did it? " You know? " You know? And you wanna say, "My older sister is the one who ate the cake, not me. And you wanna say, "My older sister is the one who ate the cake, not me. " In that case, you'd say, お姉ちゃんが食べた。 " In that case, you'd say, お姉ちゃんが食べた。 お姉ちゃんが食べた。 お姉ちゃんが食べた。 To focus on that onee-chan is the one who ate it.Okay, so to summarize, when you use は particle, は particle is the topic marker, so what you say before は is the topic, and you are letting the other person know what you're gonna talk about. To focus on that onee-chan is the one who ate it.Okay, so to summarize, when you use は particle, は particle is the topic marker, so what you say before は is the topic, and you are letting the other person know what you're gonna talk about. And the main focus is the thing that you say after は particle. And the main focus is the thing that you say after は particle. And when you use が particle, what you say before が is the main focus. And when you use が particle, what you say before が is the main focus. So you wanna say, "This is something. So you wanna say, "This is something. This is someone. This is someone. " Okay? " Okay? Did you understand? Did you understand? Okay, let's go to next example. Okay, let's go to next example. 「ミク先生は英語は上手ですね」。 Miku-sensei is good at English, isn't she? 「え？ Huh? あ、ありがとう」. Ah, thank you. What happened there? What happened there? She wanted to compliment me, but she ended up offending me. She wanted to compliment me, but she ended up offending me. Why? Why? So usually, when we say someone is good at something, we use が particle. So usually, when we say someone is good at something, we use the particle が. So someone は something が 上手。 So we say 'someone は something が 上手'. For example, if I wanna say, "John is good at soccer," I would say, ジョンはサッカーが上手。 For example, if I want to say, 'John is good at soccer,' I would say, ジョンはサッカーが上手. ジョンはサッカーが上手。 ジョンはサッカーが上手. And formally, ジョンはサッカーが上手です。 And formally, ジョンはサッカーが上手です. ジョンはサッカーが上手です。 ジョンはサッカーが上手です. If you're talking about yourself, and you are saying, "I am good at something," you wouldn't use this word 上手 because it sounds a bit arrogant. If you're talking about yourself and saying, 'I am good at something,' you wouldn't use the word 上手 because it sounds a bit arrogant. So you have to say, "I am okay at something," to be humble like Japanese people. So you have to say, 'I am okay at something,' to be humble, like Japanese people. So in that case, you can use this word 得意。 So in that case, you can use the word 得意. 得意。 Good at. It's noun adjective, and you can use like this, "I am okay at guitar. It's a noun adjective, and you can use it like this: 'I am okay at guitar.' I am good at guitar. I am good at guitar. " You would say, 私はギターが得意です。 You would say, 'I am good at guitar.' 私はギターが得意です。 I am good at guitar. And if you wanna say, "I am horrible at something," you can use this phrase 下手。 And if you want to say, 'I am horrible at something,' you can use the phrase 'bad at.' 下手。 Bad at. It's also noun adjective, and you can use it like this. It's also a noun adjective, and you can use it like this. For example, "I am horrible at sports," you can say, 私はスポーツが下手です。 For example, 'I am horrible at sports,' you can say, 'I am horrible at sports.' 私はスポーツが下手です, formally. I am horrible at sports, formally. And if you wanna be informal, you can say, 私はスポーツが下手。 And if you want to be informal, you can say, 'Watashi wa supootsu ga heta.' 私はスポーツが下手。 I am bad at sports. Anyway, if you wanna say, "John is good at soccer," you would say, ジョンはサッカーが上手。 Anyway, if you want to say, 'John is good at soccer,' you would say, 'John wa sakkaa ga jozu.' ジョンはサッカーが上手。 John is good at soccer. But if you say, ジョンはサッカーは上手, it means completely different. But if you say, 'John wa sakkaa wa jozu,' it means completely different. This は particle's function is completely different, and it shows contrast. This は particle's function is completely different, and it shows contrast. So if I say, ジョンはサッカーは上手。 So if I say, 'John wa sakkaa wa jozu.' ジョンはサッカーは上手, it sounds like John is good at soccer, but not at anything else, or not at other things.So when Rachel said, ミク先生は英語は上手ですね。 It sounds like John is good at soccer, but not at anything else, or not at other things. So when Rachel said, 'Miku sensei wa eigo wa jozu desu ne.' ミク先生は英語は上手ですね, it sounded like she was saying, "Miku Sensei, you are good at English, but not at anything else," and it sounds so offensive.So when you are meant to use が but you use は, this は particle acts completely differently, and it shows contrast. It sounded like she was saying, 'Miku Sensei, you are good at English, but not at anything else,' and it sounds so offensive. So when you are meant to use が but you use は, this は particle acts completely differently, and it shows contrast. So if you wanna say, "I like fish," you'd say, 私は魚が好き。 So if you want to say, 'I like fish,' you'd say, 'Watashi wa sakana ga suki.' 私は魚が好き。 I like fish. And this 私は, you can omit it because we assume that people know we are talking about ourselves, so you don't have to repeat 私は, 私は, 私は all the time. And this 私は, you can omit it because we assume that people know we are talking about ourselves, so you don't have to repeat 私は, 私は, 私は all the time. You can just say, 魚が好き。 You can just say, 魚が好き. So this 好き, noun adjective 好き, always goes with が particle, right? So this 好き, noun adjective 好き, always goes with が particle, right? But if you say, 魚は好き。 But if you say, 魚は好き. 魚は好き instead of 魚が好き, it sounds like you're saying, "I like fish, but I don't like meat," or, "I don't like something else. 魚は好き instead of 魚が好き, it sounds like you're saying, "I like fish, but I don't like meat," or, "I don't like something else." "So if you wanna say, "I like soccer, but I don't like basketball," you can say, サッカーは好きだけど、バスケは好きじゃない。 "So if you wanna say, "I like soccer, but I don't like basketball," you can say, サッカーは好きだけど、バスケは好きじゃない. サッカーは好きだけど、バスケは好きじゃない。 サッカーは好きだけど、バスケは好きじゃない. Or, for example, "I like beer, but I don't like wine," you can say, ビールは好きだけど、ワインは好きじゃない。 Or, for example, "I like beer, but I don't like wine," you can say, ビールは好きだけど、ワインは好きじゃない. ビールは好きだけど、ワインは好きじゃない。 ビールは好きだけど、ワインは好きじゃない. So how do you say, "I like dog"? So how do you say, "I like dog"? Simple sentence, "I like dogs. Simple sentence, "I like dogs." " How do you say? How do you say? 犬が好き。 I like dogs. 犬が好き, right? 犬が好き, right? But if you say 犬は好き犬は好き。 But if you say 犬は好き. It sounds like again you say, "I like dog, but I don't like cat. It sounds like again you say, "I like dog, but I don't like cat." " You, it sounds like you're saying, 犬は好きだけど、猫は好きじゃない。 You, it sounds like you're saying, "I like dogs, but I don't like cats." 犬は好きだけど、猫は好きじゃない。 I like dogs, but I don't like cats. Okay, so how do you say, "I like ramen, but I don't like sushi"? Okay, so how do you say, "I like ramen, but I don't like sushi"? How do you say? How do you say? ラーメンは好きだけど、寿司は好きじゃない。 I like ramen, but I don't like sushi. ラーメンは好きだけど、寿司は好きじゃない。 I like ramen, but I don't like sushi. Okay, so I will show you another example. Okay, so I will show you another example. Satoshi, サトシは声はかっこいいね。 Satoshi, your voice is cool, huh? え、声だけ？ Huh, just voice? 僕の、僕のひげは？ My, my beard? Okay, now you might know why Satoshi was offended, right? Okay, now you might know why Satoshi was offended, right? What was wrong with the sentence? What was wrong with the sentence? So when we talk about someone's appearance, we use this grammar someone は something が adjective. So when we talk about someone's appearance, we use this grammar someone は something が adjective. Someone は something が adjective. Someone は something が adjective. For example, if you wanna say, "Tom is tall," I would say, トムは背が高い。 For example, if you want to say, "Tom is tall," I would say, トムは背が高い。 トムは背が高い。 Tom is tall. Or, "Tom has got blue eyes," I would say, トムは目が青い。 Or, "Tom has got blue eyes," I would say, トムは目が青い。 トムは目が青い。 Tom has blue eyes. Or for example, "Catherine's got long hair," how do you say? Or for example, "Catherine's got long hair," how do you say? キャサリンは髪が長い。 Catherine has long hair. キャサリンは髪が長い。 Catherine has long hair. Or how do you say, "Catherine's got nice smile"? Or how do you say, "Catherine has a nice smile"? キャサリンは笑顔が素敵。 Catherine has a nice smile. キャサリンは笑顔が素敵。 Catherine has a lovely smile. So this grammar construct can be used to express someone's appearance, but also you can use for sentence like, "Osaka has got good food," or, "Food is good in Osaka," you can say, 大阪は料理が美味しい。 So this grammar construct can be used to express someone's appearance, but also you can use for sentence like, "Osaka has got good food," or, "Food is good in Osaka," you can say, 大阪は料理が美味しい。 大阪は料理が美味しい。 Osaka has delicious food. Or for example, "Kobe is famous for Kobe beef," you can say, 神戸は神戸ビーフが有名。 Or for example, "Kobe is famous for Kobe beef," you can say, 神戸は神戸ビーフが有名。 神戸は神戸ビーフが有名。 Kobe is famous for Kobe beef. Or, "Japan has an interesting culture," you can say, 日本は文化が面白い。 Or, "Japan has an interesting culture," you can say, 日本は文化が面白い。 日本は文化が面白い。 Japan has an interesting culture. Or, "Japan has got lots of nature," you can say, 日本は自然が多い。 Or, "Japan has got lots of nature," you can say, 日本は自然が多い。 日本は自然が多い。 Japan has a lot of nature. So then coming back to the skit with Rachel and Satoshi, Rachel said, サトシは声はかっこいいね。 So then coming back to the skit with Rachel and Satoshi, Rachel said, サトシは声はかっこいいね。 サトシは声はかっこいいね。 Satoshi, your voice is cool. So again, this は particle acts really differently. So again, this は particle acts really differently. It shows contrast. It shows contrast. So it sounds like, "Satoshi, your voice is cool, but not anything else. So it sounds like, "Satoshi, your voice is cool, but not anything else." " So here Rachel needed to say, "Satoshi, you've got cool voice," サトシは声がかっこいいね。 So here Rachel needed to say, "Satoshi, you've got cool voice," サトシは声がかっこいいね. サトシは声がかっこいいね。 Satoshi, your voice is cool. And then Satoshi will be really happy. And then Satoshi will be really happy. え、ありがとう。 Oh, thank you. If you tell me, "Miku, you've got cute moles," oh, こっちだね it's here. If you tell me, "Miku, you've got cute moles," oh, it's here. "Miku, you've got cute mole," if you say, ミクはほくろはかわいいね。 "Miku, you've got cute mole," if you say, ミクはほくろはかわいいね. ミクはほくろはかわいいね, you are saying, "Miku, you, your mole is cute, just your mole. If you say 'Miku wa hokuro wa kawaii ne,' you are saying, 'Miku, you, your mole is cute, just your mole.' " That would make me so sad. That would make me so sad. If you tell me, ミクはほくろがかわいいね。 If you tell me, 'Miku wa hokuro ga kawaii ne.' ミクはほくろがかわいいね, "You've got cute mole," that, that's a compliment. Miku wa hokuro ga kawaii ne, 'You've got a cute mole,' that, that's a compliment. That's a good compliment, because I'm proud of my mole. That's a good compliment, because I'm proud of my mole. Okay, so to summarize, the difference between は particle and が particle is that は particle can be used as a topic marker. Okay, so to summarize, the difference between the は particle and the が particle is that the は particle can be used as a topic marker. So what I mean by this is that what I say before は is the thing that I'm gonna talk about. So what I mean by this is that what I say before は is the thing that I'm going to talk about. And が particle can be used to emphasize the word before が, and also it can be used to describe someone's appearance, and it can be used with adjective like 好き, 嫌い, 上手, 下手, 得意, et cetera. And the が particle can be used to emphasize the word before が, and also it can be used to describe someone's appearance, and it can be used with adjectives like 好き, 嫌い, 上手, 下手, 得意, et cetera. But when you're meant to use が particle but you use は particle, は particle acts really differently. But when you mean to use the が particle but you use the は particle, the は particle acts really differently. It shows contrast. It shows contrast. Okay, did you understand? Okay, did you understand? Let's go test it. Let's go test it. Okay, challenge time. Okay, challenge time. So this is how it works. So this is how it works. I will say sentence in English and give you three second, and after that I will say in Japanese. I will say sentence in English and give you three second, and after that I will say in Japanese. If you think three second is not enough, you can pause this video and give yourself a little bit of time to think, and start the video again. If you think three second is not enough, you can pause this video and give yourself a little bit of time to think, and start the video again. Okay, there will be 10 sentences. Okay, there will be 10 sentences. Let's go. Let's go. Number one. Number one. "I like Japanese culture. "I like Japanese culture. I like Japanese culture. I like Japanese culture. " 日本の文化が好き。 " I like Japanese culture. 日本の文化が好き。 I like Japanese culture. Okay, number two. Okay, number two. "Today is my day off. "Today is my day off. Today is my day off. Today is my day off. " 今日は休み。 " Today is my day off. 今日は休み。 Today is my day off. Okay, number three. Okay, number three. "Yuki has got, uh, big eyes. "Yuki has got, uh, big eyes. Yuki has got big eyes. Yuki has got big eyes. "ユキは目が大きい。 Yuki has got big eyes. ユキは目が大きい。 Yuki has got big eyes. Number four. Number four. Shota is good at dancing. Shota is good at dancing. Shota is good at dancing. Shota is good at dancing. ショウタはダンスが上手。 Shota is good at dancing. ショウタはダンスが上手。 Shota is good at dancing. OK。 OK. Number five. Number five. This is yours, Miku. This is yours, Miku. This is yours, Miku. This is yours, Miku. Not that one. Not that one. This one. This one. これがミクのだよ。 This is Miku's. これがミクのだよ。 This is Miku's. Number six. Number six. Miki has got short hair. Miki has got short hair. Miki has got short hair. Miki has got short hair. ミキは髪が短い。 Miki has short hair. ミキは髪が短い。 Miki has short hair. OK。 OK. Number seven. Number seven. Who is driving? Who is driving? Who is driving? Who is driving? I am driving. I am driving. I am driving. I am driving. 誰が運転する？ Who is driving? 誰が運転する？ Who is driving? 私が運転する。 I am driving. 私が運転する。 I drive. OK。 OK. Number eight. Number eight. I am horrible at painting pictures. I am horrible at painting pictures. I am horrible at painting pictures. I am horrible at painting pictures. 絵が下手。 I am horrible at painting pictures. 絵が下手。 I am horrible at painting pictures. OK。 OK. Number nine. Number nine. Italy is famous for pizza and pasta. Italy is famous for pizza and pasta. Italy is famous for pizza and pasta. Italy is famous for pizza and pasta. イタリアはピザとパスタが有名。 Italy is famous for pizza and pasta. イタリアはピザとパスタが有名。 Italy is famous for pizza and pasta. OK。 OK. Number ten. Number ten. I like dogs, but I don't like cats. I like dogs, but I don't like cats. I like dogs, but I don't like cats. I like dogs, but I don't like cats. 犬は好きだけど、猫は好きじゃない。 I like dogs, but I don't like cats. 犬は好きだけど、猫は好きじゃない。 I like dogs, but I don't like cats. OK。 OK. Let me know what score you've got in the comment section. Let me know what score you've got in the comment section. またね。 See you later. え？ Huh? 声だけ？ Just the voice? 僕のひげは？ What about my beard? One more thing. One more thing. If you can subscribe this channel, that would be amazing. If you can subscribe this channel, that would be amazing. You know? You know? I love you. I love you. You legend. You legend. Loving your work. Loving your work. ありがと。 Thank you. 