よ (emphasis / new information)
yo (emphasis, new information)
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Meaning
Sentence-final particle: tells the listener something they do not know, gives emphasis or reassurance.
よ at the end of a sentence tells the listener something they do not know yet, or adds a friendly push: この店は安いですよ "This shop is cheap, you know". Think of it as "I'm telling you". It is used when YOU have the information and the listener does not. If you both already know, use ね instead.
Giving new information, reassuring someone (大丈夫ですよ), warning (危ないですよ), correcting a wrong idea, and answering questions with a little emphasis.
Formation
V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
Polite sentence + よ (〜ですよ ／ 〜ますよ)Plain sentence + よ (〜だよ ／ 〜るよ)
Visual diagram
| Aspect | よ | ね |
|---|---|---|
| Who knows the fact | speaker only | both speaker and listener |
| Feeling | "I'm telling you" | "..., right?" |
| Example | この店は安いですよ | いい天気ですね |
Natural examples
この店は安いですよ。
この みせは やすいですよ。
This shop is cheap, you know.
Sharing information the listener doesn't have.
もう八時ですよ。
もう はちじですよ。
It's already eight o'clock!
A warning: the listener has not noticed the time.
大丈夫ですよ。
だいじょうぶですよ。
It's all right (I assure you).
Reassurance: "don't worry, it's fine".
A：田中さんはどこですか。 B：もう帰りましたよ。
たなかさんは どこですか。 もう かえりましたよ。
Where is Mr Tanaka? — He already went home, you know.
B gives A information A did not have.
あ、財布が落ちましたよ。
あ、さいふが おちましたよ。
Oh, you dropped your wallet!
Telling someone something they have not noticed.
Similar grammar and the difference
ね checks shared knowledge or asks for agreement; よ delivers new information. Compare side by side
か asks; よ tells. Compare side by side
Common mistakes
- ✗
- （looking at the sky together）いい天気ですよ。
- ✓
- いい天気ですね。
- Why
- Both people can see the weather, so it is shared knowledge: ね, not よ.
- ✗
- 私は学生ですよ。（in a neutral self-introduction）
- ✓
- 私は学生です。
- Why
- よ in a neutral statement sounds pushy. Use it only when the information matters to the listener.
- ✗
- よ、この店は安いです。
- ✓
- この店は安いですよ。
- Why
- よ is a sentence-final particle; it can only sit at the end.
Overusing よ sounds pushy. Do not use よ when the listener already knows the information — use ね instead.
JLPT N5 tips
On the exam
- In a two-line dialogue, the line that answers a question or corrects the other person ends in よ; the line that agrees ends in ね.
- A warning or a reassurance (危ない, 大丈夫, もう〜時) followed by a blank is almost always よ.
Frequently asked questions
What does よ (emphasis / new information) mean?
Sentence-final particle: tells the listener something they do not know, gives emphasis or reassurance. よ at the end of a sentence tells the listener something they do not know yet, or adds a friendly push: この店は安いですよ "This shop is cheap, you know". Think of it as "I'm telling you". It is used when YOU have the information and the listener does not. If you both already know, use ね instead.
How do you form よ (emphasis / new information)?
Polite sentence + よ (〜ですよ ／ 〜ますよ) / Plain sentence + よ (〜だよ ／ 〜るよ). V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
When is よ (emphasis / new information) used?
Giving new information, reassuring someone (大丈夫ですよ), warning (危ないですよ), correcting a wrong idea, and answering questions with a little emphasis.
What is the difference between よ (emphasis / new information) and ね?
ね checks shared knowledge or asks for agreement; よ delivers new information.
What is the difference between よ (emphasis / new information) and か?
か asks; よ tells.
What is a common mistake with よ (emphasis / new information)?
Wrong: （looking at the sky together）いい天気ですよ。 Right: いい天気ですね。 Both people can see the weather, so it is shared knowledge: ね, not よ.
Quick check
What goes in ( )? A「この 店は 高いですか。」 B「いいえ、安いです（ ）。」