は vs が: Topic vs Subject

N5

は・が

The #1 source of confusion in Japanese. Learn when to mark the topic and when to mark the subject.

は and が are both attached to nouns, and both can translate to "is" or mark who does something so why are there two? The short answer: は marks the topic (what the conversation is about), while が marks the subject (who actually does the action or has the property).

Tap a card to highlight its examples below.

Side-by-side examples

JapaneseNuanceWhen to use
私わたしは学生がくせいです。"As for me, I'm a student." Normal self-introduction.は setting yourself as topic
私わたしが学生がくせいです。"I am the student (not someone else)." Emphasises exclusivity.が exclusive/contrastive emphasis
猫ねこはかわいいです。"As for cats, they're cute." General statement about cats.は general topic statement
あの猫ねこがかわいい！"That cat is cute!" Singling out a specific cat.が pointing to specific new info

Rule: Question words always use が

Words like だれ (who), なに (what), どれ (which) always take が never は.

だれが来きましたか？"Who came?" (not だれは)
何なにが好すきですか？"What do you like?"
どれが田中たなかさんのですか？"Which one is Tanaka-san's?"
どの電車でんしゃが早はやいですか？"Which train is the fastest?"

More examples in context

Contrast with は

魚さかなは食たべますが、肉にくは食たべません。

I eat fish, but I don't eat meat. (は sets up each item for contrast)

First mention → follow-up

犬いぬがいる。その犬いぬはかわいい。

There's a dog. (new info → が) That dog is cute. (now established topic → は)

Exclusive が (answering "who?")

A: だれが作つくったの？　B: 私わたしが作つくった。

A: Who made it? B: I made it. (が answers the が question)

Ability / feelings default to が

日本語にほんごが話はなせます。／音楽おんがくが好すきです。

I can speak Japanese. / I like music. (ability/desire verbs take が by default)

Quick rules to remember

  • 1

    Question words (だれ・なに・どれ…) always use が. The answer to a が question also uses が: 「だれが？」「田中さんが。」

  • 2

    は can show contrast. 「ビールは飲みますが、ワインは飲みません。」 "I drink beer, but I don't drink wine." The は sets up an implicit comparison.

  • 3

    が sounds exclusive or emphatic. 「私が行く。」 = "I'M the one going." vs 「私は行く。」 = "As for me, I'll go."

  • 4

    First mention = が, follow-up = は. Introduce something new with が; once it's the established topic, switch to は.

  • 5

    は can replace が for contrast with ability/feeling verbs. 「日本語にほんごが話はなせます」is neutral, but 「日本語にほんごは話はなせますが、中国語ちゅうごくごは…」uses は to contrast both are natural.

Particle practice

Read the context. Choose は or が. Think before clicking.

Normal self-introduction at a party.

私わたし？学生がくせいです。

Someone broke a vase. Your friend asks: "Who did it?" You confess.

私わたし？やりました…

You just spotted a specific cat on the street and it's adorable.

あの猫ねこ？かわいい！

Explaining your diet: you eat fish but avoid meat.

魚さかな？食たべますが、肉にくは食たべません。

Don't stress over getting は/が perfect early on. Native speakers understand you either way. Focus on the question-word rule first it's the clearest case, and getting it right will feel satisfying quickly.

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