<img src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1493976040374-85c8e12f0c0e?w=1200&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop" alt="How to Master Japanese Particles" /><h2>Why particles matter</h2><p>Particles mark the role each word plays in a sentence. Get them right and word order becomes flexible; get them wrong and the meaning shifts.</p><h2>The core six</h2><ul><li>は — topic marker</li><li>が — subject marker</li><li>を — direct object</li><li>に — destination / time</li><li>で — location of action / means</li><li>へ — direction</li></ul><h2>は vs が</h2><p>Use は to introduce the topic (what the sentence is about) and が to identify the specific subject. Practise with minimal pairs until the contrast feels natural.</p>