#12 The Topic Marker "は" in Japanese Part3
I believe you’ve grasped the basic logic through Parts 1 and 2. Next, I’d like to explain the meaning and usage of the particle “は” in more detail, using specific examples. For those who haven’t read the previous articles yet, please follow this link to read them.
Exploring a Variety of Example Sentences!
Scene①
A tourist from Japan, A, is on a train with his friend B, who lives in Singapore. A is about to take a drink.
A:（飲み物を 出して）喉(のど)が 渇(かわ)いたので、飲(の)んでも いいですか？
(Taking out a drink) I’m feeling thirsty. Is it okay if I drink this?
B: あ、ちょっと 待(ま)って ください！
シンガポールの 電車(でんしゃ)"では"、飲んでは いけませんよ！
Oh, wait! You’re not allowed to drink on the trains in Singapore!
In this sentence, it’s important to emphasise that drinking is not allowed "電車で on the train". Therefore, the particle "は" is used here to highlight “on the train” as "電車では".
Scene②
Friends talking about sports.
A: 毎日(まいにち) ジョギングを して いますか？
(Do you go jogging every day?)
B: ジョギング"は" あまり して いませんが、筋トレ(きんトレ)"は" 1週間(いっしゅうかん)に 3回(さんかい)して います。
(I don't go jogging much, but I do strength training three times a week.)
In this sentence, in response to the simple question, "Are you jogging?", B changes the particle "を" to "は", turning "ジョギングを" into "ジョギングは" to place emphasis on jogging. This shift highlights jogging as the main focus of the answer.
Then, to talk more about himself, the speaker uses "は" again to highlight "strength training" by changing "筋トレを" to "筋トレは", bringing emphasis to strength training as the next topic.
Scene③
Friend A is asking Friend B what time her work finishes.
A: 今日 何時まで 仕事(しごと)ですか？
What time are you working until today?
B: うーん。会議(かいぎ)があるので、8時"までは" 帰(かえ)る ことが できません。
Hmm, today I have a meeting, so I'll be working until 8.
A: そうですか。大変(たいへん)ですね！じゃ、8時半に 会いましょう。
I see, that’s tough! So, let's see at 8:30.
You’re getting the hang of it? That’s right. In this context, it feels more natural to emphasise the time. When you want to add feeling or place extra emphasis, saying "8時までは" with "は" instead of simply "8時まで" is often used to highlight the time, adding a bit more weight to the statement.
How to Use "は" in Adjective and Noun Sentences
Up to this point, I've explained that the particle "は" is used to emphasise the speaker's intended message. Here, I’d like to introduce another role of "は", often taught in Japanese language schools. This role is frequently applied in sentences with adjectives and nouns.
"が" for New Information and "は" for Established Information
It’s true…this can be a bit tricky to grasp, but it’s not essential for basic conversation, so take it lightly and ease into understanding😅
Now, let’s explore what we mean by "が" for New Information and "は" for Established Information. To illustrate, let’s look at a classic example frequently used in Japanese grammar books—the famous opening lines from the Japanese folktale Momotaro (Peach Boy):
昔々、あるところにおじいさんとおばあさん"が"住んでいました。
Once upon a time, in a certain place, there was an old man and an old woman.
ある日、おじいさん"は"山へ芝刈りに、おばあさん"は"川へ洗濯に行きました。
One day, the old man went to the mountains to gather firewood, and the old woman went to the river to do laundry.
This passage shows how English, too, uses "a/an" for new information (as in "an old man," "an old woman") and "the" for known information ("the old man," "the old woman"). This similarity might help you understand how "が" and "は" function in Japanese, as they serve a similar purpose.
Let's see some more examples.
【Adjective Sentences】
🔹星(ほし)が きれいだ。
🔸星(ほし)は きれいだ。
The stars are beautiful.
This is indeed a subtle difference, but the nuance is distinct.
First, imagine you’re with a friend, looking up at the night sky in the mountains. At that moment, your friend notices the beauty of the stars and says, “星が きれいだ!” (The stars are beautiful!). This impression is something they’re feeling right in that moment, something only they are aware of—it’s new information. That’s why they use "が" here.
On the other hand, as we mentioned, "は" is used for established information. In this sense, "は" can convey a general truth, something already widely known or accepted.
For example, imagine you’re looking up at the stars in a foreign country. You might say, “世界中の どこでも、星は きれいだね。” (Stars are beautiful everywhere in the world.) Here, rather than expressing a personal feeling, you’re stating a general observation about stars. This is the role of "は", presenting a universal sentiment or known information.
【Noun Sentences】
🔹彼女(かのじょ)が あたらしい先生(せんせい)だ。
🔸彼女(かのじょ)は あたらしい先生(せんせい)だ。
She is a new teacher.
The same concept applies to noun sentences as well.
Imagine this scenario: you and a friend heard that a new teacher would be joining your school. You’ve heard that the new teacher is a young woman with short hair, but you’re not sure who she is yet. Then, one day, you both spot someone who matches this description at school. Your friend realises and exclaims, “あ、彼女が あたらしい先生だ！” (Ah, she’s the new teacher!). Here, "が" indicates that it’s just been discovered that this person is the new teacher, conveying that this is new information.
Now, imagine a different scenario: you already know about the new teacher. When your friend asks, “Who is she?” you respond, “彼女はあたらしい先生だよ” (She’s the new teacher.). In this case, "は" is used because you’re presenting it as a general fact—you’re already aware of this information, and you’re simply sharing it as common knowledge. It’s not newly discovered information but rather something known and being brought up as a topic.
Summary
I hope this explanation was helpful. It’s challenging, isn’t it? That’s why people who truly enjoy Japanese grammar or love language learning itself may find it rewarding to think carefully about using は and が correctly while speaking Japanese. But for others, for example, those who mainly want to communicate effectively without diving into complex details, feel free to let it flow naturally without overthinking!
Of course, mastering grammar perfectly is ideal, but it’s also not a deal-breaker if you don’t. After all, I’m pretty casual with my English studies too.
One of the most frequently asked questions from students is about the difference between は and が, so I’ve explained it here in a bit more detail. In class, time is limited, and not everyone in the group may be interested, so I often don’t go this in-depth. Through this blog, I’d like to offer explanations of some of these more intricate aspects of Japanese grammar.
Thank you for reading!