は (topic)
wa (topic)
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Meaning
Marks the topic — "as for X". Pronounced わ.
は tells the listener what you are talking about: "As for X, ...". Put it after the thing you want to talk about, then say something about it: 私は学生です "As for me, (I) am a student". It is written with the kana は but pronounced わ. Think of は as pointing a spotlight at the topic, and everything after it is the comment.
In almost every sentence: introducing yourself, describing things, asking about someone. Also to contrast two things: 魚は好きですが、肉は好きじゃありません "Fish, I like; meat, I don't".
Formation
V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
Noun + は + comment私は〜です ／ これは〜です ／ 今日は〜ですContrast: Aは〜が、Bは〜
Visual diagram
- 私topic
- はtopic marker (spoken わ)
- 日本人comment
- ですpolite "am"
Natural examples
私は日本人です。
わたしは にほんじんです。
I am Japanese.
私は = "as for me". The rest of the sentence is about me.
明日は忙しいです。
あしたは いそがしいです。
Tomorrow (I) am busy.
Time words like 明日 can be the topic too: "As for tomorrow, (I'm) busy".
魚は好きですが、肉は好きじゃありません。
さかなは すきですが、にくは すきじゃありません。
I like fish, but I don't like meat.
Two は in one sentence show contrast: fish vs meat.
この店はコーヒーがおいしいです。
この みせは コーヒーが おいしいです。
At this shop, the coffee is good.
Topic は + subject が: "as for this shop, coffee is good".
田中さんは今日来ません。
たなかさんは きょう きません。
Mr Tanaka is not coming today.
The person we are talking about takes は; the verb comes last.
Similar grammar and the difference
が marks the subject and often new information or the answer to "who / which". は marks what is already known and being talked about. Compare side by side
も replaces は to say "also": 私も学生です. Compare side by side
Topic and subject in one sentence: 象は鼻が長い. Compare side by side
Common mistakes
- ✗
- 誰は来ましたか。
- ✓
- 誰が来ましたか。
- Why
- Question words (誰, 何, どれ) are never followed by は; they take が.
- ✗
- わたしわ学生です。(written)
- ✓
- わたしは学生です。
- Why
- The topic particle is always written は even though it is pronounced わ.
- ✗
- 私は本を読む人は田中さんです。
- ✓
- 本を読んでいる人は田中さんです。
- Why
- は marks the topic of the whole sentence, so it is not used inside a describing clause. Keep one clear topic.
は also carries contrast (example 3). Old information / what you are talking about takes は; new or emphasised information takes が.
JLPT N5 tips
On the exam
- If the sentence starts with a person, thing or time and then describes it, the first particle is は. If the word before the blank is a question word (誰・何・どこ), it is が.
- Watch for contrast sentences with が or けど in the middle: 〜は〜ですが、〜は〜. Both blanks take は.
Frequently asked questions
What does は (topic) mean?
Marks the topic — "as for X". Pronounced わ. は tells the listener what you are talking about: "As for X, ...". Put it after the thing you want to talk about, then say something about it: 私は学生です "As for me, (I) am a student". It is written with the kana は but pronounced わ. Think of は as pointing a spotlight at the topic, and everything after it is the comment.
How do you form は (topic)?
Noun + は + comment / 私は〜です ／ これは〜です ／ 今日は〜です / Contrast: Aは〜が、Bは〜. V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
When is は (topic) used?
In almost every sentence: introducing yourself, describing things, asking about someone. Also to contrast two things: 魚は好きですが、肉は好きじゃありません "Fish, I like; meat, I don't".
What is the difference between は (topic) and が?
が marks the subject and often new information or the answer to "who / which". は marks what is already known and being talked about.
What is the difference between は (topic) and も?
も replaces は to say "also": 私も学生です.
What is a common mistake with は (topic)?
Wrong: 誰は来ましたか。 Right: 誰が来ましたか。 Question words (誰, 何, どれ) are never followed by は; they take が.
Quick check
What goes in ( )? 私（ ）学生です。