Object Marker (を)
〜を
The particle を (wo/o) marks the direct object of a transitive verb — the thing being acted upon.
Pattern
Noun + を + Transitive Verb
Explanation
The particle を marks the direct object of a verb — the thing that receives the action. It is written with the hiragana を and pronounced 'o'. Every transitive verb (a verb that takes an object) uses を to connect to its object.
For example, in 'パンを食べます' (I eat bread), を marks パン (bread) as the thing being eaten. In 'テレビを見ます' (I watch TV), を marks テレビ as the thing being watched.
を can also indicate a point of departure or a path of movement: '電車を降りる' (get off the train), '公園を歩く' (walk through the park). This usage is less common at the N5 level but good to be aware of.
Examples
パンを食べます。
ぱんをたべます。
Pan wo tabemasu.
I eat bread.
水を飲みます。
みずをのみます。
Mizu wo nomimasu.
I drink water.
本を読みます。
ほんをよみます。
Hon wo yomimasu.
I read a book.
日本語を勉強します。
にほんごをべんきょうします。
Nihongo wo benkyou shimasu.
I study Japanese.
Common Mistakes
Wrong
パンが食べます。
Correct
パンを食べます。
Use を (not が) to mark the object of a transitive verb like 食べる.
Wrong
パンお食べます。
Correct
パンを食べます。
The object particle is written を, not お. They sound the same but are different characters.
Related Grammar Points
Vocabulary in Examples
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