particle N5 essential casualpolitewritten
は — the topic particle (as for ~)
は ・ わ
Meaning
- as for ~ / speaking of ~ — marks what the sentence is about (the topic), not a role like subject or object
は sets the topic — the thing already on the table — and says "about this, here is the new information." Because it frames rather than identifies, it carries a contrastive undertone: 寿司は好き often implies "sushi (at least) I like," leaving other foods open. This framing role is why は and the subject-marker が feel interchangeable to beginners but are not.
Key sentence
私は学生です。
I am a student.
Usage
Written は, pronounced わ. Attaches to a noun or phrase; it replaces が or を, and stacks after other particles (には, では, とは).
Examples
象は鼻が長い。
As for elephants, their noses are long.
topic は + subject が in one sentence
今日は忙しい。
Today I'm busy.
コーヒーは飲みますが、お酒は飲みません。
I drink coffee, but I don't drink alcohol.
contrastive は
日本へは行ったことがある。
To Japan, I have been (at least).
は stacked after へ
When you can't use it
- The answer to a question word takes が, not は: 「誰が来たの？」→「私が来た」, never 私は来た. New, asked-for information is marked by が.
Easily confused with
Notes
- は as the topic particle is written with the hiragana は but always pronounced わ.
See は in real sentences
Jengo shows は the way you actually meet it: inside real Japanese sentences, so it sticks instead of staying an abstract rule.
Study it in JengoSources Compiled with reference to A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar.